Health minister Chikara Sakaguchi urged the nation Friday to participate in an initiative aimed at securing the supply of blood products for hemophiliacs.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said it launched the campaign to combat a potential shortage in the supply of overseas blood products next year as a result of manufacturing difficulties.
More than 40 percent of blood products used in the treatment of hemophiliacs across the nation are supplied by non-Japanese pharmaceutical companies.
In order to secure adequate supplies of blood to cover import shortfalls, the country needs donations from at least 89,000 blood donors a month, ministry officials said. Around 76,000 people currently give blood in Japan on a monthly basis.
Blood plasma and other substances required to produce blood products for hemophiliacs are extracted from donated blood.
Under the ministry's plan, donors will be injected with red blood cells after these components are extracted.
This method will alleviate the physical burden on blood donors and allow more plasma to be collected than during normal procedures, ministry officials said.