COVID‐19 Pandemic – blood supply challenges and approaches in AATM member countries

Abstract

Abstract With the COVID‐19 outbreak, AATM took an early initiative to provide the membership instructive recommendations and informative aide mémoire. Optimizing membership support a survey was sent to 25 pandemic affected member countries, to collect challenges and approaches on blood supply and transfusion. Approach Survey sent to AATM country representatives. Five questions focused on in‐country blood collection and pandemic situation, diagnosis, treatment and personal protection equipment (PPE), including a snapshot question on disease magnitude; and 2 descriptive questions on challenges and responses to overcome challenges. Country classification – 2018 UNDP statistical update Human Development Indices/Indicators (HDI). Basic metric statistics. Results Response rate: 92%; HDI classification: Low – 1; Medium – 9; High – 9 and Very High – 4 countries; population range: 540 544–1 380 000 000; blood collection/1000: 2·4–36·1. Ranges/1000: hospital beds, intensive care/isolation beds and ventilators respectively: 0·5–8·2; 0·019–1·8; 0·0007–1·11. All countries had quarantine facilities. Sufficient PPE: all but three countries. Testing facilities: all but three countries. All but one country listed challenges and responses. Most common challenges and approaches were, respectively, shortages in blood donors and supply (19/22), staff safety (13/22); and mass media education and awareness campaigns (21/22), staff education on safety practices and universal precautions (18/22). Conclusion High response from Medium and High HDI countries. Major challenges reported: effects of pandemic on blood donors and blood supply, where most countries already were suffering from shortages due to their development state. Key approaches: staff education to prevent infection; focused public awareness campaigns to convince donors to keep coming to support the nation’s blood availability during crisis.