Immigrants generate unprecedented rupture of type A blood

The dramatic blood shortage in Portuguese hospitals—a trend also spreading across Europe—has forced the postponement of non-urgent surgeries in recent months, and the situation has worsened in recent weeks. Nascer do SOL confirmed that, a few days ago, there was an unprecedented shortage of type A blood reserves at the country's largest hospital, Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon—setting off alarm bells and forcing an emergency meeting of hospital officials.

The problem, according to health authorities interviewed by Nascer do SOL, has been worsening due to the increasing shortage of blood donors – especially among younger people – and changes in the population resulting from the migratory movements that have shaken Europe and which have worsened in Portugal in recent years with the open-door immigration policy.

According to official data made public in recent days, "as of December 31, 2024, Portugal had at least 1,546,521 foreign citizens (1,465,446 at the end of the first quarter of 2024), a number that "almost quadruples the total of 421,785 foreign citizens registered at the end of 2017" (see table alongside).

The most common blood type in the immigrant population is type A, which is the second most prevalent in the Portuguese population, right after type 0. At the end of July, the director of the Blood Service at Santa Maria Hospital, Álvaro Beleza, took advantage of his weekly commentary space on CNN-Portugal to draw attention to the gravity of the situation and launch an appeal for the need to donate blood.

In fact, there has been a dramatic decline in blood donors, especially among younger people (up to 44 years old), with blood donor banks mainly made up of citizens aged between 60 and 70, who naturally face greater constraints in donating blood as they age.

Blood needs are particularly felt in operations or surgical interventions considered more complex and in births with unforeseen complications. The latter are more common in pregnancies without medical supervision, which, in turn, occur mainly in immigrant women in labor who are outside the healthcare system.

A source from the National Health Service (SNS) confirmed to Nascer do SOL that, although the lack of reserves is widespread across the four main blood types, the most pressing situation is that of type A blood.

Interestingly, the same sources consulted by Nascer do SOL emphasize that, while it is true that the growth of the immigrant population contributed decisively to the worsening of the problem, it is precisely foreigners who are holding out hope for a future solution, since the Portuguese population, like the European population, was experiencing an accelerated rate of aging and loss of blood donors.

Blood Institute relativizes In fact, the Sikh Community of Portugal was the first to react to the public appeal launched by the head of the Santa Maria Hospital, responding with the immediate mobilization of donors among its members residing in national territory, according to an email to which Nascer do SOL had access and which is reproduced in the text alongside.

When asked about the lack of blood in Portuguese hospitals, particularly in light of the increase in the country's immigrant population, the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST) downplayed the situation regarding blood reserves in Portuguese hospitals, assuring that "there is no lack of blood for patients admitted to hospitals in Portugal, regardless of their origin."

"The IPST has a large panel of voluntary and unpaid donors from all origins and has European/international coordination and cooperation mechanisms to ensure adequate transfusion support for all patients, even those with rare blood types," the Institute added in its response.

Nascer do SOL also contacted the office of the Minister of the Presidency, responsible for immigration, but received no response.

Sikh community mobilizes donors

Nascer do SOL had access to the email response from the Sikh Community of Portugal, dated July 24th, following news about the situation of blood reserves in Portuguese hospitals and in response to the public appeal from the director of the Blood Service at Santa Maria Hospital, Álvaro Beleza:

« Dear Sirs ,

« Following the recent news regarding the shortage of blood reserves, which has led to the postponement of surgeries at Santa Maria Hospital, we hereby express the full willingness of the Sikh Community of Portugal to actively collaborate in responding to this challenge .

" In collaboration with the Lisbon Blood and Transplant Center, we have regularly held blood drives at our Odivelas facility—as illustrated in the attached image. These initiatives have been very well received by our community, particularly our younger members ."

« Aware of the urgency of the situation, we would like to propose carrying out a new blood drive, this time in direct collaboration with the Hospital de Santa Maria, involving around 50 donors from our community, all ready to contribute to this cause of solidarity.

« We believe that this collaboration could represent a concrete and significant contribution to mitigating the difficulties felt at this time .

« Best regards ,

Sikh Community of Portugal»