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Cyprus is facing renewed pressure to secure enough blood for patients, with shortages forcing delays to transfusions and planned operations. MPs and patient representatives have called for urgent action, additional staffing and a national plan to ensure hospitals can meet demand.
The issue was discussed by the House Health Committee, where lawmakers examined the supply of blood for transfusions, the implementation of the National Strategy for Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobin Disorders, and possible incentives to encourage voluntary donations.
Patient representatives warned that people with thalassaemia are among those directly affected, with some facing postponed or reduced transfusions. The shortages are also disrupting surgical schedules, prompting calls for immediate measures while longer-term solutions are developed.
Staff shortages and funding decisions under scrutiny
Several MPs questioned whether the Blood Centre has sufficient resources to maintain reliable supplies. DISY MP Prodromos Alambritis said patients must be able to receive necessary transfusions without interruption, describing blood availability as a public health priority.
He called for additional staff at the Blood Centre, targeted public awareness campaigns and regular information programmes in schools. He also proposed considering special leave for soldiers who donate blood.
Alambritis criticised the Finance Ministry's rejection of a request to increase the centre's staffing levels, which had been submitted through the Health Ministry. He said he intended to contact the relevant ministries and propose legislation allowing voluntary donors to take half a day or a full day off work, particularly in the public sector. He also urged private employers to give staff greater flexibility to donate.
AKEL MP Constantinos Constantinou called for a detailed assessment of the reasons behind the shortages, questioning how the problem could persist despite Cyprus's strong record of voluntary blood donation.
He said his party had requested comprehensive data covering all aspects of the blood donation system, arguing that authorities needed a capacity plan based on the population's actual requirements. Such planning, he said, should combine immediate measures with sustained campaigns to recruit new donors.
Constantinou also criticised the rejection of additional staffing requests, arguing that decisions affecting healthcare should not be guided solely by financial calculations. He said the state had a responsibility to ensure that every patient received the blood they needed.
Growing demand prompts calls for national planning
ELAM MP Andreas Charalambous said demand for blood was increasing as Cyprus continued to meet the needs of patients with thalassaemia while expanding its hospital services and carrying out new types of surgical procedures.
He called for a coordinated national strategy, with particular attention to thalassaemia and efforts to encourage more people to donate voluntarily.
Schools, universities and military camps were identified as important settings for educating younger people about blood donation and building a stronger culture of participation.
ALMA MP Litsa Drusiotou pointed to staffing problems affecting blood donation centres in the Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos districts, saying some facilities had remained closed because there were not enough employees.
She proposed introducing mobile blood collection units to reach potential donors and compensate for gaps in the existing network. Drusiotou also called for better coordination between public services and full implementation of the National Strategy, approved in 2022.
She raised additional issues involving newborn screening for rare diseases and nurse shortages, arguing that the health system required timely planning to meet patient needs.
Patient groups demand immediate action
Miltos Miltiadous, president of the Cyprus Federation of Patient Associations (OSAK) and the Pancyprian Thalassaemia Association, told the committee that patients were experiencing significant anxiety over the availability of blood and the postponement of transfusions.
He urged the authorities and relevant organisations to work together to meet current demand, drawing on information presented by thalassaemia clinics during the meeting.
Miltiadous said immediate action was necessary to manage the present shortages while the longer-term measures under the National Blood Donation Strategy were developed and implemented.
He also appealed to voluntary donors to continue supporting the system, acknowledging the demands already placed on them. At the same time, he called on the parliamentary committee to monitor blood supply figures and patient requirements regularly, so that shortages could be identified and addressed before they disrupt treatment.
The discussion centred on two priorities: securing sufficient blood for patients now and establishing a sustainable system capable of meeting future demand through better staffing, planning, public awareness and donor participation.
