Blood shortages reported in Croatia and the Czech Republic

Medical institutions in Croatia and the Czech Republic are reporting critical shortages in blood supplies, particularly during the summer months.

In Croatia, the Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine has noted a decrease in stocks for blood groups O+, O-, and B-. Local organizations, such as the Red Cross in Vinkovci, are organizing specific donation drives to replenish these levels.

In the Czech Republic, the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Prague has issued an urgent appeal due to low levels of blood groups A and 0. Hospitals in Prague are reporting that stocks for certain groups have dropped to approximately ten percent of required levels. Officials note that summer vacations and travel often lead to a significant decline in donors, with participation sometimes dropping by half compared to other periods of the year.