International experience

China is not alone in experiencing blood shortages: Countries like the US and Australia are also accustomed to such embarrassments.

Staff members at blood centers in the US often go door-to-door seeking donors, and regularly visit government departments, schools and other organizations.

In Japan, high-profile officers walk the streets promoting blood donations.

"We should learn from other countries," Liu said. "We shouldn't sit and wait for them to knock at our door."

The government should buy more blood-collection vehicles and collect more blood, agreed CCTV commenta-tor Bai Yansong. He supports a national TV campaign encouraging people of all classes to participate.

To bring convenience and better service, Shanghai and Beijing governments have established a system where donors can book appointments online.

Zeng is unimpressed with the service after he was told to pay 210 yuan for his own blood.

"They get my blood for free," Zeng said. "Why should I pay for it again for the blood my wife will use?"

That fee is set by government, not at the whim of hospitals or any individual, He Bing, an expert in administrative law at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Beijing Science and Technology Newspaper. He blamed the problem on a lack of transparency.

"For example, normally it costs 210 yuan for 200 milliliters of blood, but the price isn't for buying the blood itself. It includes collection, testing, storage and transport."

Meanwhile, Zeng searches for blood to save his wife.

He watched on CCTV as thousands of volunteers lined up to donate blood, reports suggesting the problem was on the brink of being solved.

"Maybe my wife will get surgery soon," he said.