As the high tourism season gains momentum, concerns rise about the escalating demand for blood transfusions in Phuket and the surrounding region. Everyone is invited to donate, with RH-Negative donors in the highest demand.
Despite the dedication of Thai and foreign Phuket-based donors, they can only donate blood once every three months, posing a challenge to meet the needs of local hospitals that provide essential treatment to thousands of tourists and locals.
On Thursday (Nov 30), Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee, locally known as Coach Sam, appealed to Phuketians through his Facebook page, seeking blood donations to save the life of Chandra Dechusorn, who was admitted to the hospital after a road accident.
Mr Chalermpong kindly requested donations of “AB-group blood or any other blood group,” emphasizing that not only rare RH-Negative blood is in demand.
On Tuesday (Nov 28), Vachira Phuket Hospital Blood Bank urgently called on kind-hearted people to donate O-group blood, describing the situation as a “severe crisis.”
Phuket RBC invites donors to visit various locations across the island throughout December. The Phuket Red Cross outreach campaign schedule for the month is as follows:
- Dec 5 – 9am-3.30pm – Phuket RBC at Phuket Red Cross Office;
- Dec 6 – noon-6pm – Central Phuket Floresta;
- Dec 6 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra on bypass road;
- Dec 8 – 9am-1pm – CU Bank Office;
- Dec 8 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 13 – 9am-3pm – Phuket Vocational College;
- Dec 13 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 14 – 9am-3pm – The Plaza Surin;
- Dec 15 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 15 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Thalang;
- Dec 16 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 19 – 9am-3pm – Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School;
- Dec 19 – noon-4pm – HomePro Village Chalong;
- Dec 21 – 1pm-5pm – Bangkok Phuket Hospital;
- Dec 22 – 10am-3pm – Saii Laguna Phuket;
- Dec 22 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 23 – 2pm-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 25 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 25 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Thalang;
- Dec 26 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Extra;
- Dec 26 – noon-6pm – Lotus’s Thalang;
- Dec 27 – noon-6pm – Robinson Lifestyle Thalang;
- Dec 27 – 1pm-5pm – Bangkok Hospital Siriroj;
People can also donate blood directly at the Phuket RBC in Phuket Town:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm;
- Tuesday, Thursday – 8.30am to 8pm;
- Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays – 9am to 3pm;
- Telephones – 076-251178 ext. 2 or 081-9588854.
- Facebook – Phuket RBC and Region Phuket NBC.
Vachira Phuket Hospital conducts its own outreach campaign, though the specific dates are yet to be announced (this story will be updated as soon as the schedule is released). In the meantime, individuals can contribute on any day directly at Vachira Phuket Hospital, located on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town.
- Monday to Friday – 8.30am to 8pm;
- Weekends and holidays – 8.30am to 3pm;
- Telephone – 076-361234 ext 1287;
- Facebook – Blood Bank, Vachira Phuket Hospital.