MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – More than 26% of blood donations in Belarus comes from voluntary unpaid donors. An increase in unpaid blood donations was reported in Belarus in 2019, Director of the National Research Center for Transfusion and Biotechnology Fyodor Karpenko told reporters on 11 February, BelTA has learned.
About 99,000 people donated blood and blood components in Belarus in 2019. More than 26% of blood donations and some 15% of blood components donations were unpaid. All in all, about 320,000 donations were collected.
Fyodor Karpenko noted that unpaid donations are a global trend. The World Health Organization strongly recommends developing national blood systems based on voluntary unpaid donations. Amendments to the laws regulating blood donations are in the works in Belarus. The bill aims to encourage people to contribute their blood.
Unpaid donors will be offered more perks and privileges. At present unpaid donors are entitled to a paid day off on the same day that they donate blood or blood components, as well as food vouchers. The amendments suggest awarding the Honorary Donor of the Republic of Belarus title only to voluntary unpaid donors.
Lyudmila Makarina-Kibak, Chair of the Standing Commission on Health, Physical Culture, Family and Youth Policy, added that Belarusians will still be able to make paid donations. However a bigger focus will be made on promoting unpaid donations. Unpaid donations do not mean that donors do not get any rewards, as the state offers a number of meaningful incentives to unpaid donors. At the same time people should realize that donations are about helping their compatriots, rather than making money, Lyudmila Makarina-Kibak said.
An extended session of the Standing Commission on Health, Physical Culture, Family and Youth Policy was held at the House of Representatives on 11 February. The participants of the session discussed ways to promote unpaid donations in Belarus and to improve the national blood policy.
