Blood Supply and Demand: Meeting Blood needs Worldwide
9 September 2015
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in order to maintain an adequate blood supply, 1-3% of the world's population needs to be blood donors. Whilst this may be an achievable figure in the West, it represents a significant challenge for developing countries.
WHO data reveals that there are over 108 million blood donations in the world each year. Crucially, over half of these are collected in high-income countries. This indicates a clear blood shortfall in the developing world. So what is causing the low supplies, how is this impacting medical treatment and what is being done to tackle the issue?
Blood Supply
In high-income countries such as the UK, blood levels are generally maintained at adequate levels. In the UK 4% of the population are blood donors, which is 1% over the quota necessary to keep the medical and research industries supplied. When blood levels are running low, funds are directed into marketing campaigns in order to bolster donations.
In the developing world, meanwhile, blood supplies are severely stretched. WHO data reveals that 75 countries collect less than 10 donations per 1,000 of their population.
In developing countries, blood is predominantly used to treat childhood anaemia and pregnancy complications. According to Safe Blood for Africa, up to 15% of child mortality in Africa may be due to an inadequate or unsafe supply of blood for transfusion.
Why the shortfall?
The huge shortfall in blood supplies in low-income countries is largely due to the lack of a robust infrastructure for blood collection, distribution and storage. In many developing countries there is no national blood service; in its absence charities and other organisations are struggling to provide blood to meet the needs of the population.
In addition to a lack of blood supply, the medical infrastructure is also to blame. Patients, in need of blood transfusion, are often located at great distances from hospitals and clinics, pushing up mortality rates.
The other key factor is a reliance on paid donations. Many low-income countries use payment as an incentive to increase donations. However, the reality of this approach is increased expense, and a high number of infected donors. Figures reveal that the safest donations come from unpaid donors who give for altruistic reasons.
What can be done?
The situation may look bleak, however a great deal of work is being done to address the shortage. Many low-income countries are working with the World Health Organisation to develop their blood transfusion and storage systems. Through the Blood and Transfusion safety programme, governments receive both guidance on blood policy and technical assistance with its implementation.
The WHO recommends the co-ordination of all activities concerned with blood provision at a national level, in accordance with a national blood policy.
Between 2004 and 2012, the number of countries with a national blood policy has increased from 60% to 70%. What is more, as awareness grows, non-paid blood donations are increasing, with 8.6 million additional unpaid blood donations reported between 2004 to 2012.
The Future
It seems that there is good reason to be hopeful, as progress to increasing safe blood supplies is gradually being made.
Huge advancements have been achieved in infrastructures for blood collection, processing, storage and distribution in the developing world. In addition, voluntary, unpaid blood donations are on the increase.
Overall donation figures have improved significantly since 2004 when just 80 million donations were collected worldwide. The current figure of 108 million represents almost a 25% rise in 11 years. The hope is that by continuing to work towards the provision of a stable, safe blood supply, there will be a significant impact on global health.
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