Polish health experts push annual blood tests and donor nutrition guidance

Medical specialists in Warsaw launched the “Answer in your blood” campaign, urging all Poles to have a full blood count at least once a year. Professor Wiesław J. highlighted that routine blood morphology can detect serious conditions such as leukemia early, but its use in occupational health has declined since 1996. He cited that only 2 % of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases are now identified through workplace testing, far below detection rates in countries like Sweden, where 40 % of leukaemias are caught this way.

Separately, Professor Regina Wierzejska of the National Institute of Public Health provided dietary advice for blood donors, noting that a typical 500 ml donation removes 200–300 mg of iron. She recommended iron‑rich foods, especially heme iron from meat, and combining them with vitamin C to improve absorption, while avoiding coffee or tea during meals. The guidance supports the nationwide “Your Blood, My Life” donor program aimed at maintaining Poland’s blood supply through 2026.