The Philippine National Red Cross is expanding its donor recruitment to allay fears over the lack of blood supply following the closure of unauthorized blood banks in Manila.

PNRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon said there was a sustainable stock without patients having to go to illegal sources.

“The PNRC supplies 37 percent of the total annual national blood collection and we have strengthened the capacity for community donor recruitment through Red Cross 143 where 25 volunteers will be standby blood donors in each of the 42,000 barangays in the country,” he said.

Gordon also called on the National Bureau of Investigation to crack down on blood sellers that collect unsafe stocks.

Dr. Criselda Abesamis, director of the Health Department’s National Center for Health Facilities, said fly-by-night commercial blood banks had been banned by a Supreme Court decision, citing the Blood Services Act of 1994.

She said only the Red Cross and the Philippine Blood Center were allowed to conduct blood donations.

Gordon said 72 PNRC blood service facilities across the archipelago make up for the supply shortfall during the lean months of December and January where most people during the holiday season are disqualified to donate blood due to diet restrictions.

He cautioned the public from buying blood that could lead to the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other diseases.

“The PNRC ensures that the blood we collect are safe to transfuse to patients. We perform blood tests for malaria, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, HIV,” Gordon noted.

The PNRC Blood Service depends entirely on voluntary donations from the public.

In its continuing efforts to serve the ever increasing demand for blood in the country, the PNRC conducts voluntary blood donor education and recruitment to communities.

In 2007, it held 1,293 blood donor sessions nationwide and was attended by 61,917 people. Macon Ramos Araneta