In an interview with TVI's 'Esta Manhã' program he said: "We have to have a different policy and this is up to the Instituto Português do Sangue. There has to be another strategy when it comes to blood collection. We know that there are many points in the country that are not covered by blood collection", for example, in the Algarve.
"In the Algarve - a region that has a lot of people at this time of year - it is very difficult for people to donate blood. Now there is a blood collection in Lagoa, at Fatacil, but we know that from Vila Real de Santo António to Lagoa are dozens and dozens of kilometres between collection points", he stressed, adding that "one of the great failures of the Portuguese Blood Institute "is not going to meet people".
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Related article: Tackling the challenge of blood donation
They also need to change their policy that stops the Brtiish from giving blood if they lived during Mad Cow Disease era and ate meat. The disease can be easily detected and has not been a barrier to blood collection in the UK for decades without any issues.
By Lindsay McCaughey from Algarve on 25 Aug 2023, 14:58
Similar to other areas, this also raises the problem of contamination through blood from vaccinated individuals.
By Diego Delgado from Algarve on 25 Aug 2023, 17:57
I'd love to donate blood. But after having a diverticulition in one if my arteries leading to my brain... I'm forbidden from ever donating blood again.
My neurologist says it's okay for me to do so, but I will not be accepted by the blood bank.
By David from Porto on 25 Aug 2023, 18:25