Blood collection exceeded need in 2024-25, govt declares in RS

NEW DELHI: Govt told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that in 2024-25, India collected 1,46,01,147 units of blood, more than the annual requirement of 14.6 million units. This was 15% more than the amount of blood collected in 2023, which was 1,26,95,363 units.

In India, voluntary blood donation is around 70% while the rest of the donation is done by family members or friends donating for a patient.

Union minister of state for health Prataprao Jadhav said in a written reply to a Parliament question that several steps had been taken by govt to engage with different departments, voluntary organisations like Indian Red Cross Society, blood donor associations, professional associations and other stakeholders to create opportunities to donate and raise public awareness of the need for safe blood donation and transfusion.

"Govt supports various activities like conducting blood donation camps, observance of events on voluntary blood donation days...., etc," he said.