In Shuanglin Blood Plasma Donation Center in Shuoxian County, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, a student assistance program was launched during the summer. Students who donate blood or plasma four times or more between June 15 and August 31 can receive a “student assistance subsidy” of 200 yuan. This initiative has sparked concerns among netizens who question whether the program is enticing students to donate.
On August 25, a poster bearing the logo of Shuanglin Blood Plasma Donation Center in Shuoxian County circulated online. The poster indicated that in order to help more students fulfill their educational dreams, the center organized the “Plasma Donation for Scholarships, Love Through Plasma” activity. Students who donate blood or plasma four times or more between June 15 and August 31, 2024, can receive a 200 yuan scholarship subsidy upon verification of their student ID (student card, admission notice, etc.) at the blood donation center after August 31, 2024.
With students donating blood four times in just over 70 days, averaging less than 20 days between donations, netizens are skeptical about the short intervals of plasma collection potentially harming students’ health. Additionally, there has been a tragic incident in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, where a 19-year-old boy died suddenly after blood was drawn from him 16 times consecutively.
On the 26th, Xiao Xiang Morning News learned from the donation center that the activity is indeed real but restricted to students in the local area who are 18 years old or older.
A staff member claiming to be from the donation center told the newspaper, “This activity is exclusive to our area. Many students have participated. At present, we have not completed the statistics. Many students have started school midway, so we provided them with the (200 yuan scholarship subsidy) in advance. Those who have not met the required number of donations will not receive it.”
When interviewed by Benliu News, staff from the Health Bureau of Huanshun County stated that the plasma donation process is legal and compliant. While there are concerns about inviting young and inexperienced students to donate plasma under the guise of “student assistance subsidy,” Zhang Zhiqiang, the Director of the Health, Health and Sports Bureau of Huanshun County, emphasized that 18-year-olds are considered adults who can think independently. Currently, they are tallying the number of students participating in this activity.
According to the Information for Blood Plasma Donors (2021 Edition), it stipulates that the interval between two blood plasma donations should not be less than 14 days, and the total number of plasma donations within a year should not exceed 24 times. Each plasma donation should not exceed 600 grams (including anticoagulants). Although the required plasma donation frequency by the center complies with the “interval of at least 14 days between two plasma donations” rule, several doctors from top-tier hospitals have clearly stated that voluntary donations of whole blood, plasma, or blood components should be spaced at least six months apart clinically. This is because donating blood consumes part of the plasma, requiring about six months for the body to recover before meeting the normal blood donation criteria.
Netizens have expressed various concerns: “It may comply with national regulations, but it may not be in line with the donor’s health!” “How is this any different from inducing blood plasma sales?” “This is a deceitful act towards university students who lack life experience, aiming to profit from them ruthlessly!” “For four donations, even at 300 per donation, totaling 1200 milliliters for just 200 yuan, not even vampires would take that much blood.” “Charity has become a tool for demons to make money.” “This is inhumane!” “What they want is not blood, but lives.”
Reportedly, Shuanglin Blood Plasma Donation Center in Shuoxian County is affiliated with Shuanglin Bio-Single Plasma Collection Station in Shuoxian. The official website of Shuanglin Single Plasma Collection Station shows that the station belongs to Guangdong Shuanglin Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The company is engaged in the research, production, and sale of blood products and owns a total of 19 plasma stations in Guangdong, Guangxi, Shanxi, and Xinjiang.