The National Health Commission (NHC) recently issued a document calling for the incorporation of voluntary blood donation into the social credit system and the establishment of an incentive mechanism that provides donors with preferential treatment when using communal facilities or visiting state-owned toll parks. It's hoped that this practice will encourage more people to donate blood, but for those who do not donate, their personal credit scores will not be affected in any way.

According to statistics released by the NHC, in 2018, blood collection in China reached 25 million units, with more than 15 million donations. Generally, a unit of blood is equivalent to 200 milliliters. However, mainly due to unfounded health concerns, a lot of people are still unwilling to donate, leading to blood shortage in many hospitals. The social credit system is thus expected to serve as an incentive to promote this act of charity.

Some believe the measure will indeed encourage more people to give blood to save the lives of others, while others argue that it's going too far by linking blood donation to the social credit system, which was originally designed to help financial institutions' risk control.

Perks are good

Hao Dongmei (Shandong Business Daily): The NHC's proposal seems to have triggered debates because blood donors will be able to enjoy preferential treatment in many areas if it is adopted. Some argue that blood donors deserve extra respect, but there should be no privileged groups in a fair society.

Social fairness is very important, but offering some perks to those who provide extra services or benefits to society is also necessary, especially since most blood donors don't do it for potential gains or privileges. Although the volume of blood collected and the number of blood donors keep rising in China every year, blood shortages are still severe. When more and more people are encouraged to donate blood through various incentives, we can see more patients saved.

It's more than reasonable to make blood donors feel they have been rewarded for their good deeds. This is what the NHC's proposal aims to deliver.

Zhang Haiying (Workers' Daily): The proposed incorporation is an effective incentive mechanism. Actually, many places have already given blood donors access to preferential treatment in life, such as Weihai in the eastern province of Shandong. Blood donors win bonus points which, in turn, will get them preferential treatment in some medical and financial services, among other things.

The NHC's proposal aims to push more places to link blood donation to the social credit system. This will not only help stabilize blood supplies, but also boost the sense of altruism and personal credit among the public.　

Of course, the call is only part of overall efforts to help China's blood banks. Other measures must follow, such as a more transparent blood collection system. Only when favorable policies and supporting systems are in place can we expect to see more blood donors across the country.

Not a dumping ground

Li Pengguo (news.163.com): To incorporate blood donation into the social credit system is a good idea, but it may prove impractical. The system is a result of the market economy. It serves to facilitate economic activities, which explains why the governing body for social credit data is the People's Bank of China (PBC). It records loan defaults and illegal economic acts, and punitive measures are limited to economic means such as restrictions on financing activities and high consumption.

To link blood donation, a social issue, to the social credit system is blurring distinctions. Even if the system is allowed to extend from economic to social life arenas, it is about people's integrity and honesty. Is blood donation necessarily linked to them? Does that mean that those who do not voluntarily donate blood should be labeled dishonest?

Blood donation will win donors bonus points, while those who do not donate will not have their personal credit scores adversely affected. But when others are given extra benefits for donating blood, but you are not entitled to the same good things, it's actually punishment in a new form. Suppose someone has low credit, but suddenly is rewarded and seen as a reliable and honest person thanks to blood donation. Is that reasonable?

Xiong Zhi (guancha.gmw.cn): In any event, it's improper to incorporate blood donation into the social credit system just because it is a good deed.

A sound social credit system helps the government and financial institutions make comprehensive assessments of individuals and organizations. The operation of the system is based on a series of reward and punishment mechanisms, thus helping enhance the integrity and credibility of the whole society.

However, it is not supposed to be used everywhere. Blood donation is an act of charity that should be encouraged, but it is not necessarily linked to donors' credit. A blood donor may default on loans while a non-donor may not.

The social credit system is based on citizens' and organizations' economic and social reputation, not on moral standards or the willingness to contribute to the public good. There are actually clear distinctions. Early this year, when asked if individual records of water and electricity bills would be incorporated into the social credit system, the PBC said no. Since bills related to these utilities are not being used as reference for citizens' credit, why should blood donation be incorporated?

Currently, an increasingly developed social credit system is being used in more and more areas. More acts that have nothing to do with credit are being connected to the system, which is distorting its original function.

To encourage the public to donate, apart from awareness promotion activities, more effective incentives need to be found like giving priority access to donors or their families when they need blood.

The social credit system is something to assess individuals' and organizations' credit, not their kindheartedness. To throw everything into the "basket" of the social credit system reflects the inaction and laziness of health authorities.

Liu Yuanju (The Economic Observer): The social credit system, which was originally established to help financial institutions, has expanded in recent years. Information recorded in the credit system will incur rewards or punishments for citizens in terms of public services and thus the system is extending into more areas.

China is a modern country ruled according to law, which means that moral standards will not affect citizens' rights to public services. To some extent, by incorporating blood donation into the social credit system, health authorities are partly transferring their responsibility to other departments.

Health authorities still have a lot to do within their ranks to motivate people to donate blood. A growing number of people are migrating across the country. Out-of-towners are often unable to get blood transfusions with their blood donation certificates issued by the health authorities of their place of residence. Moreover, even blood donors have to pay for blood when they need it.

Because the treatment of blood costs money, the misunderstanding arises that hospitals are selling the blood that people donate. This allegation has discouraged many potential donors. Are there other ways to cover the cost of blood treatment? Beyond the social credit system, there are a lot of possible incentives. Health authorities should do more than focus on this system.

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

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