英语阅读:新规则让献血者受益

Local residents think the new regulations are good, but they donate blood for various reasons.

"My purpose is very simple. Giving blood is good for our country as well as my own health."

"Giving blood can accelerate my metabolism. In the future, if I encounter any medical problems, I can use my blood for free."

"I know presently we have a relatively small blood bank, so I think I have the responsibility to give blood."

Liu Jiang, director of Beijing Red Cross Blood Center, says the blood donating situation this year is not doing well.

"Right now, blood donations are not done in a balanced and planned way. Blood donated on the streets is the major source right now, but it accounts for a decreasing amount of the total blood collection volume. Weather and seasonal factors are the main reasons. Besides, people walking past the blood donation bus are fluid and uncertain about donating. That's why the efficiency of collecting blood on the streets is decreasing."

Director Liu points out that government and administrative bodies play an important role in promoting blood donations.

He says new regulations issued by Beijing Public Health Bureau are good for both blood donors and blood collection units.

Under the new rules, anyone who donated blood in Beijing will be allowed to get five times the amount they donated for free if they encounter medical problems in 10 years, and two times the amount after 10 years.

Previously if blood donors and their relatives needed blood in a hospital, they needed to pay the blood charges first. To be reimbursed, they had to take the right documents to the local blood donation office, a cumbersome process.

Liu says the regulations are aimed at establishing a long-term blood donation mechanism.

"The government is trying to improve the service for blood donors. We need to offer good services for our donors. If the donors are not pleased, the blood collecting effort can not last long. We try to tackle problems the donors have encountered. This way we can establish a long-term blood donation mechanism."
However, Liu adds that publicity about blood donating is still very essential.

He says blood donating isn't harmful to the donor's health and there is no chance of being infected with any disease when donating.