The move to allow more foreigners to give blood comes as the nation aims to achieve 10 million CCs in blood donations this year in honour of His Majesty The King’s 6th Cycle Birthday (72 years), to be commemorated with national celebrations on July 28.
A special blood donation drive targetting foreigners will be held again at Limelight mall in Phuket Town on July 28.
Blood donations from foreigners are especially welcome as they are among the main providers of Rh-Negative blood.
“The Western population has a relatively high percentage of Rh-Negative, as much as 15% to 22%, depending on the region,” Nancy Rower of the Thailand Rh-Negative Blood Donation Facebook Group previously told The Phuket News.
“This is an EXTREMELY Rare Blood Type in the Thai population, less than 0.3%,” she said. “If you are Rh-Negative, please donate every 90 days. This will help many patients in need, both Western and Thai.”
To that end, foreigners from the United Kingdom, Ireland and France who were previously excluded from being allowed to make blood donations, are now allowed to do so.
The schedule of mobile blood donation clinics to be held in Phuket by the Phuket Red Cross Regional Blood Center (PRBC) throughout the rest of July is as follows:
July 9: 12:00 - 18:00 - Central Floresta shopping mall (Temporary Blood Donation Unit, Parking Floor G)
July 9: 13:00 - 16:00 - JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Mai Khao
July 11: 9:00 - 15:00 - Phuket Nine at Rawai Park
July 12: 13:00 - 16:00 - The Naiharn
July 13-16: 9:00 - 15:00 - Phuket Rajabhat University (Khun Lert Phokarak meeting room Andaman Phannarai Convention Center)
July 18: 10:00 - 15:00 - King Power Phuket (Chao Fa West Rd)
July 18: 13:00 - 16:00 - Patong Bay Hill Resort & Spa
July 25: 9:00 - 15:00 - Phuket International Airport (Office building, 1st floor)
July 30: 9:00 - 15:00 - Phuket Rajabhat University (Student Affairs Building, 2nd floor)
The Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital is also continuing its ‘Mobile Blood Donation’ drive, with mobile blood donation clinics for the rest of July as follows:
July 9: 10:00 - 16:00 - Limelight shopping mall, Phuket Town
July 10: 10:00 - 14:00 - Phuket Technical College
July 11: 10:00 - 15:00 - Sunwing Kamala Beach resort
July 16: 10:00 - 15:00 - HomePro Thalang
July 17: 10:00 - 15:00 - Wichit Municipality
July 18: 9:00 - 15:00 - Phuket Provincial Hall
July 19: 10:00 - 15:00 - Thepkrasattri Municipality
July 23: 10:00 - 15:00 - Kalima Resort & Spa, Kalim
July 24: 10:00 - 15:00 - Region 8 Police, Mai Khao
July 25: 10:00 - 15:00 - Thalang District Office
July 26: 10:00 - 15:00 - Department of Learning Promotion, Phuket office (Damrong Rd, Phuket Town)
July 28: 10:00 - 18:00 - Limelight shopping mall, Phuket Town
July 30: 10:00 - 19:00 - Lotus’s, Chalong
July 31: 10:00 - 15:00 - Phuket Provincial Police (Chumphon Rd, Phuket Town)
People can also donate blood directly at the Phuket Regional Blood Centre, located at 38/193 Rattanakosin 200 Pi Rd in Talad Neua, Phuket Town.
The centre is open:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday – 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday – 8:30am to 8pm
Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays – 9am to 3pm
For more information contact the PRBC:
- Phone: 076-251178
- Mobile: 081-9588854
- Facebook: Phuket Red Cross Blood Donation Center
- LINE: @rdi1296r
The Blood Bank on the 4th floor of the outpatient building at Vachira Phuket Hospital, on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town, is listed as “always open” For more information: Tel: 076-361234 ext 1287; or visit Facebook: ธนาคารเลือด รพ.วชิระภูเก็ต (Vachira Phuket Hospital Blood Bank)
People presenting themselves to donate blood are asked to:
- Bring your ID card to verify your identity each time you donate.
- Ensure you are in good health.
- Get enough sleep the night before.
- Eat a complete meal.
- Avoid high-fat foods such as pork leg rice and chicken rice.
- Do not donate blood while taking antibiotics to ensure good quality blood.
- Drink 3-4 glasses of water.