Cyprus parliamentary committee addresses critical blood supply shortages

On October 22, 2026, the Cyprus parliamentary Health Committee discussed urgent blood shortages that have led to 702 postponed transfusions for thalassaemia patients between January and October. The committee highlighted that these shortages have resulted in canceled surgeries and placed immense physical and psychological strain on patients, many of whom are forced to work while their hemoglobin levels are dangerously low.

Panayiotis Zezos, a board member of the Pancyprian Thalassaemia Association, testified that the situation risks returning the country to the 1960s and 1970s, when his own family lost a child due to a lack of available blood. Data shows that postponements fluctuated throughout the year, peaking at 151 in January and rising to 127 in September, with 73 cases reported so far in October.

Lawmakers and patient representatives are demanding a comprehensive national strategy, including increased staffing for the Blood Centre and more robust incentives for voluntary donors. While the government is exploring new frameworks to increase blood collection, officials and activists agree that immediate measures are necessary to ensure the continuous availability of blood for essential clinical procedures.