Patients’ groups issued a distress signal in parliament on Thursday over inadequate blood stocks to properly treat people with thalassaemia and other haemoglobin diseases.

MPs heard that the lack of blood has led to postponements of surgeries as well as under-transfusions for thalassaemia patients.

Disy’s Prodromos Alambritis called for specific measures to boost blood donations, describing it as a public healthcare priority.

He proposed increasing staffing at the national blood centre, organising targeted awareness campaigns, and giving incentives to army conscripts and civil servants to donate blood.

For example, civil servants donating blood could be given the day off.

The MP expressed concern that the finance ministry recently rejected a request by the blood centre to hire more staff.

Akel’s Constantinos Constantinou wondered how “serious shortages” in blood stocks can exist while Cyprus has a solid track record in blood donations.

Regarding the finance ministry denying the blood centre’s request, Constantinou asserted that health-related matters should not be treated as “accounting issues”.

He added: “Donating blood is an act of solidarity. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure sufficient amounts of blood.”

For her part, Alma MP Litsa Drousiotou spoke of blood banks in Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos remaining closed due to lack of personnel.

Her party proposes the creation of mobile blood banks.

Miltos Miltiadous, head of the Federation of Patients’ Associations (Osak), said patients are issuing a “cry of anguish” over the lack of blood stocks.

According to data presented by the health ministry in June this year, Cyprus ranked first in the world in voluntary unpaid blood donation relative to population size.

A blood donation drive organised by the Paphos self-government organisation (EOA), the Paphos regional office and charity organisation Anazo has managed to secure 61 units of blood, contributing to meeting the needs of patients who require blood transfusions.

The units were collected after a total of 70 donors came forward to donate blood.

Deputy district officer of Paphos Froso Georgiou said the donation drive was dedicated to the memory of young people who passed away prematurely – Charalambos Leantzis, Andreas Thaddeus Miltiadou, Panagiotis Sink, Neophytos Tsangaras and Michalis Alexandrou, transforming their memory into a practical act of service to the public and highlighting the importance of voluntary blood donation and social solidarity.

The organisers expressed their gratitude towards all volunteer blood donors, collaborators and those who contributed to the success of the donation drive, saying the initiative emphasised the importance of collaboration between public services and social organisations when implementing substantial social impact initiatives.