Blood reserves in Serbia have fallen to a critically low level, with supplies currently estimated to be sufficient for only about a day and a half, according to the Institute for Blood Transfusion of Serbia. The institute has issued a new appeal for voluntary blood donors, warning that several blood groups are particularly difficult to maintain at the moment. A and O blood groups, both positive and negative, are among those most urgently needed, while all negative Rh blood groups are also at very low levels. Officials are urging people who are able to donate to come forward, stressing that hospitals require blood every day and that supplies cannot be built up in advance.
Mirjana Knežević from the Institute for Blood Transfusion said the current situation requires a stronger response from donors, particularly because blood cannot be artificially produced or replaced with another substance. The health system therefore depends entirely on voluntary donations to maintain supplies for patients who need transfusions. According to the institute, the beginning of September has brought an additional decline in the number of donors. The remaining summer period, high temperatures and the return of children to school can all contribute to people postponing blood donations, but the need for blood continues regardless of the season or calendar.
The institute is encouraging citizens who meet the requirements for donation to visit its main facility at 39 Svetog Save Street in Belgrade. Blood can be donated there on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while Saturday donations are available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mobile teams are also operating at different locations, with schedules available through the institute’s official information channels. Officials emphasized that even during periods when regular donor numbers decline, hospitals continue to require blood for patients undergoing treatment, surgery and other medical procedures.
The appeal comes as Serbia enters a period in which maintaining stable blood supplies is particularly important. With reserves at only around one and a half days, every additional donation can help strengthen supplies and ensure that hospitals have access to the blood they need. The Institute for Blood Transfusion is therefore calling on regular donors to continue donating and on eligible citizens who have never donated before to consider joining them. The message from health officials is straightforward: blood is needed every day, and maintaining adequate reserves depends on people responding when supplies become critically low.
