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Germany Faces Urgent Blood Shortage as DRK Warns Stocks Down to 1.5 Days

Blood services report sharply reduced supplies in several regions as winter weather plus an infection wave depress donor turnout.

Overview

  • DRK-Blutspendedienst West says reserves in North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland cover only about one and a half days.
  • Universitätsklinikum Leipzig and DRK identify an acute shortfall for blood group O Rhesus positive.
  • Mecklenburg-Vorpommern reports donations roughly 30% below need, with A-, O- and O+ inventories especially low.
  • DRK and partners including ADAC are mounting urgent appeals to recruit donors, with a focus on first-time eligible participants.
  • Germany needs around 15,000 blood units daily, and limited shelf life means missed donations immediately strain hospital supply.