Critical Blood Shortages Hit Alagoas and Goiás Health Systems

The Hemocentro de Alagoas (Hemoal) reported a critical blood stock on 27 May, holding only 25.4% of the minimum needed to serve hospitals and maternity units – 89 bags against a required 350. The centre listed the health, age (16‑69 years) and weight (≥50 kg) criteria for donors, along with documentation requirements, and advised where in the state donations can be made.

In Goiás, the Rede Estadual de Serviços Hemoterápicos (Rede Hemo) warned that its O‑negative blood supply fell 30% in July, reaching a critical level across 223 health units. Donor numbers dropped more than 15% compared with previous months, a decline the network attributes partly to the school‑holiday period. O‑negative, the universal donor type, is needed for emergencies and represents only about 7% of the population, making replenishment especially difficult. The network called for increased donations to sustain transfusions for surgeries, transplants, oncology, trauma and hematologic patients.