Erbil Blood Bank Connects All Hospitals Through Digital System
Speaking to Kurdistan24, Director Sanea Ababakr Ahmed said the system has significantly improved the blood bank’s operations by digitally registering donors and their blood types and assessing the quality and suitability of donated blood.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Erbil Blood Bank Directorate has connected all public and private hospitals through an advanced digital blood-bank system, streamlining blood collection, testing, and distribution, its director said on Wednesday.
Speaking to Kurdistan24, Director Sanea Ababakr Ahmed said the system has significantly improved the blood bank’s operations by digitally registering donors and their blood types and assessing the quality and suitability of donated blood.
“When the blood is unsuitable, it cannot be used, and the donor’s information is recorded in the system,” Ababakr said. “When the person donates blood again, there is no need to repeat the blood-type test, which also helps us conserve supplies.”
The system is linked to all public and private hospitals in Erbil. Hospitals can submit blood requests electronically directly to the blood bank, eliminating the need for written requests and helping prevent fraudulent requests while speeding up the process.
The Erbil Blood Bank has approximately 150,000 registered donors, including around 100,000 regular donors who give blood twice a year. Donor information is permanently stored in the digital system.
Ababakr said all blood donations are voluntary and that donated blood is stored under safe and appropriate conditions for use during emergencies and other critical situations.
He said the blood bank has consistently met the needs of thalassemia patients without experiencing shortages. Patients with thalassemia receive around 1,200 units of blood each month, making them among the system’s primary beneficiaries.
Nanakali Hospital receives between 20 and 40 units of blood daily, while dialysis patients receive between 10 and 20 units per day.
Ababakr also said patients in Mosul have benefited from the Erbil Blood Bank’s services, attributing the facility’s capacity in part to its specialized blood-testing equipment.
He emphasized that Erbil is the only location in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region equipped with the specialized technology needed to conduct these blood tests, further strengthening its role as a key regional blood-supply center.