The voluntary blood contribution has accounted for 85 percent of China's blood collection in 2003, a remarkable 22 percent higher than that of 1998, said an official from Ministry of Health on October 20.

As learned, the non-administratively-planned voluntary blood donation made up 61 percent of China's total blood collection, while the administratively planned blood donation without payment yielded 24 percent. So far China has gradually realized a shift from planned blood donation without payment to voluntary blood donation.

Currently, fatal diseases like the spread of AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C through blood contact are the major threat to many countries. The WHO believes that the establishment of a national blood collection and supply system based on the voluntary blood donation is a precondition for ensuring the safety of blood and decreasing the possibility of contagious diseases transmitted by blood transfusion.

As early as 2001, China invested 2.25 billion Yuan to build, rebuild and enlarge 318 blood stations across the country so as to guarantee the safety of blood for clinical purpose. For the time being, China has formed a three level blood service network for clinical purpose, i.e. the blood centers on provincial, prefectural and county levels, which provides the basic guarantee for the safety use of blood for clinical purpose.

By people's Daily Online