More money for blood donations?

Florian Tiefenböck studied human medicine at the LMU Munich. In March 2014, he joined as a student and has supported the editorial team with medical articles ever since. After receiving his medical license and practical work in internal medicine at the University Hospital Augsburg, he has been a permanent member of the team since December 2019 and, among other things, ensures the medical quality of the tools.

More posts by Florian Tiefenböck All content is checked by medical journalists.

Donating blood is important. They are often vital for accident victims, cancer patients or during complicated operations. And in the corona pandemic, blood donations can have a further meaning. Those who have recovered with antibodies may be of help to the seriously ill. But there are bottlenecks when it comes to donating blood. Should solidarity be rewarded better than before?

Whitsun was close in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. In an emergency, the blood reserves would not have lasted 24 hours, reports the German Red Cross before World Blood Donation Day on June 14th. In Berlin and Brandenburg, the supply shrank by half on the long holiday weekend to an amount for one or two days. In other German regions, too, buffers for supplies are dwindling because donors are missing. This is also, but probably not only, due to the Corona crisis. Are new incentives necessary?

Donating blood saves lives

Donating blood can help save or extend lives. “Most of the donated blood is used for patients with malignant diseases, especially those involved in blood formation. And with tumor diseases, ”says Hubert Schrezenmeier, board member of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology.

In addition, there is the care of injured people after serious accidents with blood loss and the treatment of a number of chronic diseases. Blood could also play a role in the corona pandemic: Antibodies against the virus can be found in those who have recovered, at least for some time. But there is still no evidence because there have been no comparison groups, says the doctor. “It is difficult to say when the results will be available. Because only very severe Covid-19 cases are treated with recovered plasma. "

About 15,000 blood donations needed per day

"In Germany we need around 15,000 whole blood donations per day," reports Schrezenmeier. It could be regionally scarce. On average, only three percent of German citizens donated blood. “But around a third could do that in principle.” There is a lack of willingness and motivation. That shouldn't be a reproach. The doctor believes that there is an opportunity to motivate more people. The question is how?

Declining willingness to donate

The solidarity in matters of blood donation did not only wane in the Corona crisis with its many restrictions. "In some regions the willingness to donate has fallen sharply," says Patric Nohe, spokesman for the blood donation services of the German Red Cross (DRK).

The DRK covers over two thirds of the demand for blood reserves in Germany. In contrast to, for example, private providers or clinics, donors do not receive any expense allowances. The DRK wants to continue to rely on voluntariness in the future, says Nohe.

Remuneration for blood donations?

Georg Marckmann, Professor of Medical Ethics at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, wonders whether this strategy will work in the long term. “It would be entirely appropriate to reward the valuable resource blood with an expense allowance. You just have to try it out, ”he says. In a second step, one can then see whether the money - Marckmann considers around 25 euros to be appropriate - has an effect on willingness to donate.

The medical ethicist emphasizes that blood is a scarce and valuable resource. Blood donation services and downstream companies made money with it. "Therefore it is only fair if the people who make this resource available and who spend time on it receive an appropriate allowance for their expenses."

Problem durability

The fact that there are now increasing bottlenecks in blood supplies has to do with the currently more relaxed situation in the pandemic. Since many clinics are now catching up on postponed operations, more donations are needed, says DRK spokesman Nohe. The shelf life of the blood preparations also plays a role. Because only blood plasma can be frozen for two years.

The concentrate made from red blood cells, which is particularly necessary in the case of anemia, can be used for a maximum of 42 days, explains Schrezenmeier. Platelets, which are important for blood clotting, can only be kept for 4 to 5 days. “So it is not possible to build up large stocks here. We need regular donations. "

Don't be afraid of donating blood

"For two and a half weeks, the blood requirement has risen sharply," says the doctor. “A major bottleneck has arisen. We now need more donations for a longer period of time. ”It is also about buffers. The blood donation services would have changed in the pandemic. They now offer even more hygiene, distance concepts, mask requirements and improved appointment bookings.

You can find out more about donating blood, what the requirements are and how it works here. (ft / dpa)

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