It sounds like a stupid statement, but it is actually not. To donate blood in Bucharest, Romania, can be quite challenging, so I am gathering a list of locations where it is easier to undertake this precious operation. I am talking from the perspective of a guy who donated 26 times in 10 and a half years, so I have a very consolidated experience to put on the table. The main problem is with the two locations, so then I have decided to check where you can find remote.
I am sharing the best locations I know you can check on a regular basis:
- Primaria Municipiului Bucuresti (Mayor’s Hall). The last such activity was held on 11th of September 2025, but they also had one at end of July, so you want to have a look at the place, to check for future.
- Sheraton Hotel Bucharest. This location holds such events normally at every three / four months, exactly the ideal time between donations (even if males, for example, can donate every 58 days, it would be a stretch). Last scheduled activity, 15th of September 2025, after similar events in January and April.
- Mega Image Romania is probably the finest food chain in the country, and they also organize recurring blood donating events. The latest was scheduled in June 2025. I have never been there, and have no clue about the recurring events, but you should keep an eye on them, since I can recommend the place. 🙂
CTS staff is good, but not the procedure on site
Now, an important fact to mention is that all activities above, are in collaboration with CTS (Centrul de Transfuzie Sanguina), the biggest blood donation center in Romania. Of course, now you will ask why not to go there, right? The ladies involved in the process are very nice, not a problem with that, but the bureaucracy and location are horror. Let me exemplify. In late 2024, I’ve made an appointment thru a donating app, at 10:20 in a weekday. When arrived there, after the initial procedures were checked, I was abruptly warned: “We don’t follow the appointments, we just guarantee you you will donate today”. Huh? This is, of course, a Romanian thing. So, technically, you could have waited whole day and got the process done. For a guy that doesn’t take days off when donating blood, this is frustrating. I left, and promised never to come back. Then I started to seek solutions.
Why I don’t donate blood at SCUMC anymore
The three above, from which the 1. and 2. already tested with success. Process is really smooth and quiet, as it should be. Another question that you might have is… how could I donate 26 times, given the problems encountered at CTS? Most of my donations, in fact 100% (virtually 22 sessions), until end of 2023 were done at SCUMC (Spitalul Universitar de Urgenta Militar Central). I can’t say I didn’t enjoy all experiences, as a blood donor can enjoy, but at the beginning of 2024 I consider to be not properly treated, and decided not to return there. Now there is a catch: 1st of January 2024, the benefit for people increased abruptly from 60 lei to 280 lei, and that ignited the behavior, so if you “don’t know somebody” like we say in Romania, you could be challenged. So I felt.
50 bucks…
The 220 lei extra is not something significant for a decent human being – less than 50 USD – but this really changed things, so then I decided to backdown. Apart from donating blood for my own health benefit, I like providing high quality sample for people in need, because there are a lot indeed. So if you are wondering where you can donate blood in Bucharest, take in consideration what I have written. Myself, I will keep going, every three / four months at a remote caravan to donate, one of the three mentioned. At least until they would work. Returning to CTS or SCUMC is out of the question for me, but it might work for you. I just warn you that you might encounter unpleasant surprises.
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