2026/09/23 12:03
Although Taiwan has a high blood donation rate, the declining birthrate and aging population have put blood supply and demand under pressure; diagram. (Picture taken from freepik)
[Health Channel/Comprehensive Report] Taiwan’s blood donation rate ranks among the highest in the world, reaching 8.08% in 2022. However, the declining birthrate and aging population are putting blood supply and demand under test. It is expected that between 2027 and 2030, there will be an intersection between blood demand and supply, leading to a more serious ischemic dilemma. Experts call on healthy people to cultivate the habit of regular blood donation, maintain the stability of blood banks with technology and love, and continue Taiwan's most beautiful scene of mutual aid.
Hou Shengmao, chairman of the Blood Foundation and president of Shin Kong Hospital, and Lin Minchang, director of the Taipei Blood Donation Center, discussed issues related to whether the amount of blood donation is sufficient, especially due to the impact of low birthrate and aging population, and proposed ways to respond to the possible blood shortage crisis on Shin Kong Hospital's "Zi Yue Talks Health" program.
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Decreasing birthrate and aging population impact blood supply and demand
Hou Shengmao explained that blood is one of the most important organs of the human body and is crucial to maintaining life. 1/7 of the human body is blood. Without blood, life cannot last. An analysis of the current situation of blood donation in Taiwan shows that the blood donation rate ranks first in the world, which shows that Taiwanese people are very caring. The blood donation rate is as high as 8.08%, ranking first in the world. Now we are facing the twin concerns of declining birthrate and aging population. In the past, Taiwan had 430,000 newborns a year, but now it has dropped to only about 150,000 to 160,000. This has led to a significant decrease in the number of young blood donors. In addition, the aging population has increased the demand for medical blood, creating an imbalance between supply and demand.
Therefore, he said that in order to promote blood donation education to take root downwards, in the face of the hidden concern of the decline in the number of young blood donors, it is necessary to "take root downwards" from the childhood stage, such as publishing picture books to promote blood knowledge, so as to understand the significance of blood donation from an early age.
Hong Ziren, deputy director of Shin Kong Hospital, said that "precise blood transfusion management" is implemented from the perspective of medical management. For example, Shin Kong Hospital uses morning meetings where blood transfusion specialists share the latest blood transfusion knowledge to enhance the concept of precise blood transfusion among all doctors in the hospital. In conjunction with the "Precise Blood Transfusion Manual" presented to colleagues by President Hou Shengmao, Shin Kong Hospital guides medical staff to accurately implement blood transfusion orders to ensure that limited blood resources can maximize the effectiveness of the declining birthrate and aging population. At the same time, a medical information system is introduced to review blood transfusion orders to avoid wastage or improper use of blood.
Lin Minchang, director of the Taipei Blood Donation Center, said that based on the data of the past 10 years, the number of blood donations by young people aged 17 to 20 has decreased by approximately 10,000 times each year. It is estimated that between 2027 and 2030, if the demand for blood continues to grow, the blood supply may face insufficient supply. Although blood collection currently has planned weekly and monthly goals, it is often affected by winter and summer vacations or the Lunar New Year holiday, resulting in a decrease in blood donation volume. In order to cope with the need for medical blood during the Lunar New Year holiday, the blood donation center will promote the "Blood Donation Month" about one month before the Chinese New Year to increase the blood inventory in advance.
Debunking common myths about blood donation
As for whether patients with high blood pressure can donate blood, Lin Minchang, director of the Taipei Blood Donation Center, said that if you are unwell or taking medication, donating blood is not recommended, and your health should still be considered as the premise. Many people are concerned about whether donating blood will cause anemia? Based on the calculation that a 65kg adult has about 5000cc of blood, 250cc of blood in a single donation is only a small part. Properly replenish water before and after donating blood, and the human body will naturally adjust and recover.
