Blood, Blood Products and Products of Human Origin

Every year, 120 million blood units are donated worldwide, yet demand still outpaces supply. Blood cannot be stored indefinitely, making continuous donations essential. High-income countries record up to seven times more donations than low-income ones, creating disparities in access to safe blood. 

The WHO Action framework for blood products proposes a renewed effort to scale up programme implementation to improve global adequacy of blood donation, and universal access to quality and safe blood and blood components for transfusion, and plasma derived medicinal products.

Blood transfusions are lifesaving for various medical conditions, including anaemia, pregnancy complications, trauma, surgeries, sickle cell disease, and haemophilia. Ensuring safety in blood collection, storage, and transfusion is critical.

The availability of safe blood is a critical public health priority in India, aiming to improve patient safety and reduce transfusion-related risks. 

India requires approximately 14.6 million units of blood annually. The  National Blood Transfusion Council and State Blood Transfusion Councils aim to regulate and license blood banks in collaboration with  Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.  To enhance blood safety, all donations undergo mandatory screening for transfusion transmissible infections, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and malaria. The health-care system in India promotes voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation, creating a stable and safe supply. 

The Blood Transfusion Services (BTS) Division under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, plays a vital role in safeguarding public health through the provision of safe, sufficient and timely access to blood and blood components. As an essential part of the national health care system, BTS is responsible for the establishment, regulation, and upgradation of blood centres; ensuring quality and safety in blood collection, testing, storage, and transfusion; and promoting voluntary non-remunerated blood donation across the country.

WHO India has been providing guidelines, global standards, and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for strengthening national blood systems. The key areas of focus include strengthening quality assurance at blood centres and improving access to safe blood transfusion services in the country. 

Access to safe blood and blood products is a vital part of universal health coverage and an essential component of the health system. Safe blood saves lives and must be available to everyone who needs it.

Blood donation is a gift of life and committed, voluntary blood donors who donate regularly without receiving any payment are the backbone of a safe and sufficient blood supply, both in normal times and during emergencies.

Every individual’s participation strengthens the health system, while government leadership and investment ensure equitable access to quality-assured blood transfusions for the population.

The Government of India is working to strengthen national blood programmes, and improve quality assurance systems, including the National External Quality Assessment Programme for blood centres.

WHO provides technical support to strengthen the External Quality Assurance Programme for blood centres scale-up and mark World Blood Donor Day to inspire communities to come together to secure safe, quality-assured blood for all.