Phuket expats unite for life-saving blood donation drive
Australian Consulate and local groups join hospital campaign to raise supplies for patients
Foreign residents and local organisations in Phuket have come together to encourage life-saving blood donations as the island braces for its busy tourist season.
The Australian Consulate-General in Phuket teamed up with Phuket Has Been Good To Us, the British Honorary Consul and the Phuket Veterans for a blood drive at Vachira Phuket Hospital this week. The event aimed to raise awareness of the urgent need for donors and highlight the critical importance of rare blood types in Thailand.
Medical staff stressed that demand for blood always spikes during peak tourist season due to an increase in road accidents and medical emergencies. Rhesus-negative blood is especially vital, yet extremely scarce in Thailand, present in only 0.3% of the population compared with around 15% in Western countries. This shortage poses serious challenges for both Thai nationals and foreign residents.
To address the gap, Vachira Hospital regularly hosts blood drives and operates a blood bank open around the clock. Officials said anyone considering donating should first confirm their blood type and check eligibility criteria online, as some restrictions apply based on age, health and lifestyle.
Importantly, Britons who lived in the UK during the 1980s and 1990s are now cleared to donate in Thailand.
Long-term Australian resident Sue Ultmann shared her personal story to underline the importance of giving blood. A regular donor herself, she became critically ill five years ago and required multiple transfusions of red blood cells and platelets to survive. She credited both Thai donors and the care she received at Vachira Hospital for saving her life.
“This experience showed me how vital blood donations really are. I wouldn’t be here today without them.”
Hospital officials added that mobile blood donation units operate across Phuket, making it easier for residents and visitors to contribute, The Phuket News reported.
Donors were reminded that a small act of generosity can make the difference between life and death.
The Vachira Phuket Hospital Blood Bank is located on the fourth floor of the outpatient building on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town and remains open at all times.
For more information, contact 076-361234 ext 1287 or visit the official Facebook page: ธนาคารเลือด รพ.วชิระภูเก็ต (Vachira Phuket Hospital Blood Bank).
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