China's non-remunerated blood donations up in Q1

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland reported donations of some 1,010 tons of blood in the first quarter, up 6.08 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Health.

Figures released Tuesday by the ministry show that about 2.99 million people made voluntary, non-remunerated blood donations from January to March in the mainland, excluding Tibet, marking a year-on-year rise of 6.6 percent.

In the ministry report, the provinces of Heilongjiang and Henan saw the largest increases -- both above 20 percent -- in the amount of blood donated.

According to the ministry, China's demand for blood in medical services is quickly increasing, with some areas already reporting blood shortages. By 2015, the country's blood demands can only be met if 120,000 people donate each day.

Last week, the ministry issued a circular allowing voluntary blood donors to reimburse their payments for blood usage outside the facilities where they donate blood -- a bid to encourage voluntary blood donations.

The policy currently only applies to various facilities within the same provincial-level regions. However, the ministry encourages provinces to promote inter-provincial reimbursements for blood usage, if possible.