KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — The National Blood Bank has sufficient supply for the upcoming Raya season.

However, the public is urged to continue donating to ensure a stockpile is available for emergencies.

Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam appealed to the public to contribute more since blood can only be stored for four months.

“While there is enough for the Raya season, we prefer having a stockpile as fewer people come forward during Ramadan.”

He encouraged those donating during the fasting month to have a heavy meal, preferably before 9am.

Speaking at the launch of World Blood Donors Day at Astaka Titiwangsa he said 2,000 bags of blood are needed daily by 925 patients nationwide who need transfusions due to illnesses.

“This doesn’t include emergency cases and those with rare blood types.” 

A bag contains either 350 or 450 millilitres of blood. 

In 2014 Malaysians contributed 675,315 bags that were used to treat 337,807 patients.

Dr Subramaniam said a majority of Malaysians are fit to donate blood and should be encouraged to do so.

“Only 2.2 per cent of the population has come forward during donation drives compared to 3.5 to five per cent in developed countries, he said.

He guaranteed blood and related products including plasma and proteins produced by fractionation were safe.

“Our screening procedures are effective. Potential donors are required to complete a fact sheet before their blood is screened for type, suitability and presence of diseases ,” he said.

He said the percentage of blood that was rejected was less than 0.1 per cent.

Individuals with blood diseases should refrain from donating. Apart from the risk, it was a waste of resources.

“We will screen and reject it anyway, don’t waste our time as we are trying to save lives,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam said the construction of a blood fractionation facility would ensure a timely supply blood and related products.

“Extraction of proteins and production of blood related products is done overseas. 

“This is time consuming and expensive, so clearly there are advantages to processing blood locally,” he said.