Patient groups warn MPs that blood shortages are disrupting treatment

Nicosia, Cyprus. Patient groups warned parliament on Thursday that blood supplies were insufficient to adequately treat patients with thalassaemia and other haemoglobin disorders. MPs were told that shortages had forced surgery delays and left thalassaemia patients receiving less blood than required.

Proposals to increase donations

Disy MP Prodromos Alambritis urged action to encourage more blood donations, saying the issue should be a priority for public healthcare. His proposals included additional staff for the national blood centre, awareness campaigns aimed at specific groups, and incentives for civil servants and army conscripts to give blood.

He suggested that civil servants could receive a day off when donating. Alambritis also voiced concern over the finance ministry’s recent refusal to approve the blood centre’s request for additional staff.

Staffing gaps and state responsibility

Akel MP Constantinos Constantinou questioned why Cyprus faced severe blood shortages despite its strong record of donations. Addressing the ministry’s rejection of the staffing request, he argued that healthcare decisions should not be reduced to financial calculations.

Constantinou described blood donation as an expression of solidarity and said the state was responsible for ensuring adequate supplies.

Alma MP Litsa Drousiotou said staffing shortages had left blood banks closed in Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos.