KUWAIT: The Blood Transfusion Services Department at the Ministry of Health (MoH) inaugurated yesterday a subsidiary blood donation bank in Farwaniya Hospital, as part of its strategic plan to provide new branches in every health area and increase the overall bloodstock.

Assistant Undersecretary at MoH for Medical Services Dr Mohammad Al-Khashti said, on the sidelines of the opening, that the increase in blood donation branches is part of MoH's development plan and its interest in improving and developing the health services provided. He commended the efforts of the Blood Transfusion Services Department in improving and developing the services responsible for it.

In a similar statement, Director of the Department of Blood Transfusion Services at MoH Dr Reem Al-Radwan said that the Farwaniya Hospital branch contained four beds. The overall number of beds in all branches equals to 93, she noted, adding that the branch receives donors during official working hours from Sunday to Thursday, from 07:30 am to 08:30 pm. The Kuwait Central Blood Bank and its branches have collected about 75,000 blood bags and 8,000 platelet bags since the start of 2020, using the latest international technologies in terms of safety and quality, she said.

She indicated that the opening of the new blood branch will contribute to increasing the daily collection of donating blood by 4 percent, which will relieve pressure on the main bank. The department faced significant challenges to continue donating and providing its services, in accordance with the highest safety standards and the application of health requirements to ensure an adequate, safe and sustainable supplies of blood considering the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also able to attract donors and maintain the strategic blood stock, she added. - KUNA