Shanghai hopes to meet its target of collecting 80,000 liters of blood through voluntary donations this year.

In previous years, the Shanghai Blood Administration Office relied on quotas from universities and enterprises to fill the need.

The office said it was a tough task to meet this year's target, which is 2,000 liters higher than last year.

Moves will be taken this year to prevent blood shortages and maintain a reasonable storage of different blood types.

"Shanghai has the second largest demand for blood, following Beijing, which consumed about 84,000 liters of blood last year," said Wang Ying, director of Shanghai Blood Administration Office. "Local consumption was about 80,000 liters last year, since patients all over the nation and from other countries come to Shanghai and Beijing for treatment due to superior medical technology.

(Shanghai Daily January 10, 2008)