FREE blood. That’s what Shenzhen Blood Center hopes will bring back donors.

    During an open day Sunday, Shenzhen Blood Center stressed a regulation that blood donors will be refunded the cost of blood transfusions received anywhere in the world — as long as the donor can provide six documents.

    The policy applies to both foreign and Chinese blood donors.

    “According to Shenzhen Special Zone Citizens’ Blood Donation and Blood Management Regulation, blood donors have the privilege of blood usage, for their lifetime, without a top limit or charges,” said the person in charge of the blood center.

    Last week a Guangzhou Daily report said the average annual income at the center reached 357,000 yuan (US$57,580). Although the figure was lowered to 196,800 yuan at a press conference July 7, the average salary at the center is still twice the city average. The report sparked a drop in blood donations of between 70 percent and 80 percent, according to a center employee.

    After the drop in donations, hospitals began putting off selective surgeries and warned they may soon need to deny transfusions.

    Blood costs 210 yuan per 200 milliliters in Shenzhen, according to information provided by the blood center.

    The free blood will also have a sort of family plan, according to the person in charge of the center.

    “Spouses, children and parents of blood donors can use for free the same volume of blood the donors contribute.”

    Would-be donors with blood that does not pass the center’s tests will get as much free blood as they originally donated.

    To be reimbursed the center needs to see a blood donation certificate, an ID card, a blood usage receipt, an expense list and a document showing the hospital’s blood usage details.

    The blood center is currently accepting applications for reimbursement.

    Blood transfusions received outside of Shenzhen will also be reimbursed, according to the blood center, as long as blood donors can provide the proper documents.

    During the open day, 60 citizens visited Shenzhen Blood Center.

    “The operation of the blood center is actually quite transparent. Citizens should come and pay a visit. Then misunderstandings will be cleared up,” said a woman surnamed Zhang. “When I saw the empty trays for the blood, I felt anxious and kept thinking: what if a patient is in desperate need of a large blood transfusion at this very moment?”

    The average blood donation in China is between 300 and 400 milliliters each time, according to a 2010 study. (Zhang Xiaoyi)