The Community of Madrid issued an urgent appeal for blood donations on 26 August 2026. According to the Centro de Transfusión stocks of several blood groups are below the level needed to meet demand. Groups 0+, AB- and B- are particularly affected, and the authority is asking for immediate donations. Around 900 donations are currently needed each day to support operations, transfusions, transplants and emergency care in the region’s 70 hospitals.
Donations from A+, A- and 0- are also requested, preferably over the next two to three days, to stabilise stocks. By contrast, AB+ and B+ are considered sufficient by the regional transfusion service, although regular donations are still welcome. In a statement on 17 August, the regional administration put overall stocks at around 38% of the required level and had already called for more donations during the summer weeks.
Blood donations supply patients in Madrid with components for planned procedures, cancer and haematology treatments, and the treatment of severe bleeding after accidents. Blood cannot be manufactured artificially, so supplies depend on people donating regularly. General eligibility requirements are usually to be aged 18 to 65, weigh more than 50 kilograms and be in good health. The donation itself usually takes less than 20 minutes; a brief medical check is carried out beforehand.
The Comunidad de Madrid directs donors to the Centro de Transfusión in the district of Valdebernardo, to permanent donation sites at several hospitals and to mobile units operating across the region. Units run by the Cruz Roja are also in operation. Regional services advise donors to check opening times and locations in advance and, if possible, to donate in the coming days to help resolve the shortages quickly.
The appeal comes at a time when donations tend to fall seasonally, while hospitals’ needs remain high. In the short term, a significant increase in daily donations is crucial to keep operations on schedule and ensure emergency care is not restricted. In the medium to long term, the authorities aim to strengthen the resilience of blood supplies through recurring local donation drives, longer operating hours for mobile teams and closely timed information campaigns.
Editor: Clara Simonichek (Article created with AI assistance).