Staff Shortages and Funding Gaps Spark Calls for Blood Donation System Reform in Bulgaria
Jerusalem, 11 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – The Bulgarian Organization for Voluntary Blood Donation (BODK) is calling for a complete overhaul of the nationa’s blood donation system. This was announced by the organization. BODK is a voluntary association that provides assistance and information related to blood donation; it works to encourage and popularize regular, anonymous and voluntary blood donation.
It is necessary to conduct an audit of the funds spent, analysis and control to optimize costs; to take clear and significant actions to attract new staff to the transfusion hematology centers; to develop a state policy to encourage and popularize voluntary blood donation, BODK indicated. The drastic shortage of staff, the imposed vicious practices and the widespread serious ignorance on the subject deepen the problems caused by the lack of sufficient blood and blood products, the organization also indicated.
BODK helps in emergencies through the mobile application “Donate Blood”, part of the organization’s mutual aid system. Users can seek help through an emergency call for blood donation, provide assistance, receive notifications for both emergency calls and voluntary blood donation campaigns, find out where they can donate blood or contact BODK. Calls for help have increased by 48% compared to the previous year, with each call being checked and confirmed for authenticity, correctness and timeliness. An essential point is the lack of direct contact between blood donors and those in need, which overcomes the risks of abuse of the need for blood.
One blood donor can help three patients, said Stefka Popova from the Bulgarian Blood Donor Association. According to her, hospitals that require blood donations from a patient’s relatives do not have such a right and this is not regulated by law. Shifting responsibility onto patients and their relatives is a vicious practice that makes potential blood donors hesitate whether to help a stranger today or not, and further deepens the problems, she added.
June 14 marks World Blood Donor Day.
