CHENGDU - Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu donated plasma on Saturday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and called on health workers to take the lead in blood donation to ease the country's blood supply shortage.

This is the sixth time for Chen Zhu to donate blood or plasma since he took office as Health Minister in 2007.

"Blood product is a vital necessity for the health services, and blood donation is a philanthropic act," said Chen.

Chen also complimented the contribution of Sichuan Province in securing the blood supply.

Blood shortages are commonly seen in many cities and provinces of China. According to the figure released by the Ministry of Health in February, only 87 of every 10,000 people on the Chinese mainland donate blood, far less than the average of 454 for every 10,000 people in developed countries and the WHO-recommended figure of 100 for every 10,000.