Healthcare Solutions - Changes in demographics will impact the DRK's blood donations.
Mark your calendars for this Friday (June 14) – it's World Blood Donation Day! Hesse's Health Minister, Diana Stolz, urges everyone to donate blood, even during the summer and vacations. Despite the fun times, there's a serious issue at hand: the need for blood donations doesn't stop, and there aren't any synthetic substitutes for it. In Germany, around 14,000 to 15,000 blood bags are needed daily to maintain a secure supply.
The German Red Cross (DRK) is pushing for new donors, especially among the younger generation. According to Martin Oesterer, Head of Donor Relations Management at the DRK Blood Donation Service Baden-Wuerttemberg/Hessen, the average age of donors is 46. The bulk of the donors come from the baby boomer generation, and as they transition from giving to receiving, it's time to find new blood donors. "Demographic change will affect us," Oesterer warns, "We need to make up for the supply shortages without any gaps."
2019 saw some changes to the blood donation guidelines. They removed the upper age limit, allowing anyone above 18 to donate if they're healthy. Homosexual and bisexual people can no longer be turned away due to their sexual orientation. These new rules were agreed upon by the Federal Medical Association, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Federal Ministry of Health, and the Robert Koch Institute. Instead of asking about sexual orientation, donors will now be questioned about their number of sexual partners and sexual practices. Heterosexual donors will also go through more specific questions about their own practices.
Despite these changes, there hasn't been a significant increase in donors - neither from the senior citizens over 72 nor from homosexual men. So if you're one of the eligible 18-year-olds, consider being a blood donor and helping overcome the supply gaps.
