Andorran Red Cross Urges Regular Blood Donations Amid Shortages

Vicky Marrugat, president of the Andorran Red Cross, has reiterated that blood reserves in the principality remain insufficient to meet hospital needs, urging residents to donate on a regular basis.

Speaking to the Andorran News Agency, Marrugat described blood donations as one of the organisation's most critical priorities heading into 2026. She stressed that current collection levels fall short despite public support, with the principality's growing population and blood's limited shelf life driving up demand. "We will never have enough," she said, emphasising the need for more consistent donors.

The most recent drive, running from 9 to 21 November, saw 1,423 visits to collection sites and added 223 new donors. Marrugat acknowledged these numbers were slightly down from the previous year, linking the decline in part to scheduling that did not always match peak availability periods.

The Red Cross has expanded access by opening new sites in Pas de la Casa and Sant Julià de Lòria. Marrugat welcomed the move but cautioned it alone cannot bridge the gap without sustained participation. She pointed out that even 233 donations from a single campaign might cover only a fraction of requirements, which could reach around 500 units.

Locally gathered blood feeds into a shared system with Catalonia for lab processing and redistribution, rather than going directly to Andorran hospitals. In exchange, the principality receives supplies from there.

Marrugat made a targeted call to young people to renew the donor pool across generations. For next year, she outlined plans to increase the Red Cross's social media activity to highlight the benefits of donation for both recipients and donors.