By Liu Jinsong (劉金松) and Zhu Chanjun (朱昌俊)
Economic Observer Online
Sep 20, 2011
Translated by Zhu Na
Original Article: [Chinese]

According to media reports, a blood bank in Henan Province has appealed for emergency supplies of blood. The Henan Provincial Renmin Hospital has also been forced to stop carrying out surgery for the past three days due to a lack of bloodm, with more than 100 operations canceled or delayed.

Aside from Henan, blood banks in Guangdong, Hainan and Shangdong have also experienced blood shortages.

Someone who works at the Henan blood bank told the EO, the major reason for the shortage has been the dramatic increase in blood demand. The employee explained that many operations are carried out in Autumn and this leads to increase demand.

The staff member mentioned above also emphazised that since the "Guo Meimei Incident" in June, public trust in the Red Cross has dropped and this has "to some extent, had a negative impact" on the situation.