Donating blood is a simple way to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life, especially on Koh Samui where all blood types, but particularly rare ones like RH Negative, are in great demand.
Donating regularly—about every 3 months—is vital, because blood isn’t available for immediate use; it takes 3–4 days to be screened and processed, so waiting until there’s an emergency can be too late. Why not make it part of your routine—every time you do your 90-day Immigration reporting, schedule a blood donation too? Regular donations help ensure blood is ready when it’s needed, not days too late.
Here’s the SOS guide to giving blood on Koh Samui:
Where to Donate
Koh Samui Hospital, Nathon (map link)
Location: 2nd floor, ER building
Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday:
- Mornings: 08:30 – 11:30
- Afternoons: 13:00 – 15:30
- Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays:
- Mornings: 08:30 – 11:30
- If there is an off-site blood donation event on any day, the hospital will be closed for this service, so please take a look at the Red Cross Samui Facebook Page (and click Translate)
Process: Walk in during operating hours—no appointment necessary.
Who Can Donate
You can donate blood if you meet these general guidelines:
- At least 17 years old
- Weigh more than 45kg
- Eat a low-fat meal atleast 3 hours prior, and drink 300–500ml of water
- Good general health, no symptoms of infection (cold, flu, diarrhea) in the last 7 days
- No alcohol in the last 24 hours
- No recent tattoos or piercings (within 6 months)
- No recent surgery or blood transfusions (within 1 year)
- Not taking certain medications (e.g., antibiotics in the last 7 days, aspirin or muscle relaxants in the last 3 days)
Cick here for the full screening questionnaire.
The Donation Process
- Registration & Questionnaire: Fill out a health and lifestyle questionnaire (available in English) and provide ID.
- Screening: A nurse checks your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, hemoglobin, and overall suitability.
- Donation: A blood draw takes about 8–10 minutes—about 450mL is collected. You’ll remain seated or reclined during this time.
- Rest & Refreshments: After, relax with snacks and drinks provided on-site to help you recover.
- Post-Donation Care: Avoid strenuous activities and hydrate more for the rest of the day.
Foreigners and Blood Donation
Foreigners, including tourists and expatriates, can donate blood in Thailand. The hospital on Koh Samui are welcoming and provide questionnaires and information in English. The process is similar to international Red Cross guidelines, with some region-specific questions, such as history of malaria or time spent in certain countries, added in.
Around 15% of people with European ancestry are Rh negative (such as UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, US, Australia and NZ), compared to less than 1% in Thailand—a huge difference that helps explain why Rh-negative blood shortages are such a serious issue here, and why expats donating can make a real impact.
Lived in the UK or France in the 80s–90s? You can donate blood in Thailand now
If you lived in the UK or France during the 1980s–1990s, yes—you can now donate blood in Thailand. The long-standing “Mad Cow” (vCJD) restriction has been lifted, meaning eligible donors can give blood at regional centres including Bangkok, Phuket, and Nakhon Si Thammarat (about 120km from Donsak pier). Thailand is the third country outside Europe—alongside Australia and Canada—to accept these donors again, and red blood cells from these donations can still be used to help patients in need.
More Information
Donating in Koh Samui
- Facebook page: Koh Samui Red Cross Blood donation (good idea to check for mobile blood donation collections)
Donating in Nakhon Si Thammarat (an option for people who lived in UK and France in the 80’s and 90’s)
- Facebook page: Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST) Red Cross Blood donation
- Opening Hours for the Nakhon Si Thammarat Blood donation centre
- Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 08:30 – 16:30
- Tuesday & Thursday: 08:30 – 19:30
- Saturday, Sunday & public holidays: 08:30 – 15:30
- PS. not sure if they close for lunch
Facebook Group: Thailand RH- Blood Donation
Whatsapp Group: Rh Negative Blood Type Donation (I think for RH- donors who live on Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao)
Donating in Bangkok: (a good option for people who lived in UK and France in the 80’s and 90’s)
- National Blood Centre on Henri Dunant Rd (near Samyan MRT, it’s about 2km from MBK so fairly central)
Blogs/Media:
