News | Taiwan Blood Services Foundation ESG

May 2, 2026. TVBS "Ten O'Clock News" produced a special report titled "Declining Birth Rates Hit Blood Banks: Youth Donation Rates Plummet." The feature aims to raise public awareness about the current status and underlying concerns of blood donation in Taiwan. In response, the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation is actively promoting a "Coming-of-Age Blood Donation" initiative to encourage youth participation.
 

Reporters: Chou Yu-hsuan, Li Yen-chih
Interviewees: Wang Xuan-hui (Public Relations Director of the Foundation), Dr. Lin Wei-wen (Cardiologist, Taiwan Adventist Hospital), Li Li-ci (Dietitian)
 

Taiwan is facing the dual pressures of an aging society and declining birth rates, leading to an emerging generational gap in blood banks. According to statistics, the proportion of blood donors under the age of 20 in Taiwan has fallen annually, dropping from 11.19% in 2022 to 8.26% in 2025. In 2025, the number of donors under 20 years old plummeted to just 50,405. This steady decline among the younger demographic is placing severe pressure on blood inventories.
 

To expand the donor pool, the Ministry of Health and Welfare amended the "Health Standards for Blood Donors" in July 2025 (Year 114 of the Republic). The minimum age for blood donation was lowered from 17 to 16. For senior donors over the age of 65, blood donation is permitted provided they meet the health standards and have a record of donating blood within the past two years, subject to medical evaluation. However, senior donors over the age of 70 are still required by law to obtain a physician's approval. Additionally, the minimum weight requirement for whole blood donation has been standardized across all genders to 45 kilograms or above.
 

Wang Xuan-hui stated: "Given that the elderly population consumes more blood while youth donations are decreasing, the pool of potential donors is shrinking. The Taiwan Blood Services Foundation attaches great importance to youth donation issues and encourages 18-year-olds to donate their first bag of blood. Turning 18 signifies reaching adulthood and assuming responsibility for oneself and society. Donating a first bag of blood demonstrates both the capability to save lives and the willingness to shoulder social responsibility."
 

By leveraging the sense of ritual in an 18th-birthday coming-of-age ceremony, the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation symbolizes that youth can carry social responsibilities. The foundation has also published engaging blood donation picture books and arranged student visits to root the concept of blood donation early in education, hoping it integrates into daily life from childhood and becomes a habit.
 

Dr. Lin Wei-wen stated: "For the health of donors and the quality of blood, we encourage young people to donate. Older individuals are more likely to have underlying health conditions. Those with cardiovascular diseases, carriers of HIV, HBV, or HCV, or individuals in the acute phase of an infection—such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections—are ineligible to donate blood."
 

Dietitian Li Li-ci noted: "After donating blood, it is essential to replenish fluids. In terms of diet, donors should increase their intake of protein, iron, vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid, as these nutrients are closely linked to red blood cell production. Consuming red meat is an effective way to replenish high-quality protein and iron. On the day of donation, donors should avoid coffee, strong tea, and calcium-rich foods such as milk, dairy products, and calcium supplements, as they inhibit iron absorption."
 

Faced with a potential crisis of blood supply disruption caused by declining birth rates and an aging population, the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation appeals to more teenagers to join the ranks of blood donors. The foundation also emphasizes the importance of conducting health self-assessments and proper dietary adjustments before and after donation, ensuring that this cycle of goodwill remains uninterrupted.
 

News Source: https://youtu.be/Ppq50o7egVQ?si=U_LywA-x_qj2R6Tp