The Chinese Ministry of Health has urged Olympic host cities ensure sufficient blood supply in hospitals to prepare for public health emergencies during the Games.

In response to the request, the cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, among others, will check the implementation of previous plans on blood supply and carry out drills on how to support emergency treatment with blood supplies in early July.

Hospitals should raise total blood reserves and increase the stock of rare blood types such as RhD negative, the ministry said Thursday.

The ministry also told host cities to improve blood donation management and build an efficient mechanism for blood donation appointments. Measures such as keeping the registration information of donors, especially those of rare blood types, should be taken to guarantee a stable blood supply.

In case of high surgical demand for blood, sufficient supply should be ensured through inter-municipal or inter-provincial allocation, said the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2008)