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Hans India
6 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Recognising selfless service, SVIMS celebrates World Blood Donor Day
Tirupati: Recognising the life-saving role of voluntary blood donors, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) celebrated World Blood Donor Day by honouring 77 individuals for their selfless contributions with certificates of appreciation. The event, held on Saturday and organised by the Department of Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine (Blood Centre), acknowledged the crucial impact of regular blood donors in sustaining emergency and advanced medical care. Speaking on the occasion, SVIMS Director-cum-Vice-Chancellor Dr R V Kumar underlined the need to make blood donation a part of everyday life. 'Blood is not only essential in emergencies and trauma care, but is also crucial across all super-specialty departments,' he noted. Reflecting on his own experiences, he shared that he had donated blood countless times. 'On one occasion, I even had the opportunity to donate blood just before performing open-heart surgery,' he recalled. He also highlighted the exceptional performance of the SVIMS Blood Centre, which has now been designated as a training hub for organisations conducting voluntary blood donation camps. SVIMS Dean Dr Alladi Mohan pointed out the stark gap in demand and supply of blood units in India. 'While the country needs four crore units of blood annually, only 40 lakh units are available. Although 50 per cent of the population is eligible to donate, only four out of every 1,000 people actually donate,' he said, attributing the shortfall to lack of awareness. He stressed that men can donate every three months and women every six months without health risks. Medical Superintendent Dr Ram highlighted the introduction of the National Health Mission's 'e-Rakt Kosh' app, which facilitates easier access to blood donation services. He encouraged young people to actively participate in blood donation drives. Head of the Blood Centre Dr Sridhar Babu shared that this year's World Blood Donor Day is being celebrated with the theme 'Give blood. Give hope – Together we save lives'. All attendees took a pledge to donate blood whenever someone is in need. SVIMS Registrar Dr Aparna R Bitla, in-charge Principal of Sri Padmavathi Women's Medical College Dr Mukteshwarayya, RMO Dr Kotireddy, Senior Professor of Cardiology Dr Vanajakshamma, and several others participated.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Lack of voluntary blood donations help ‘red market' thrive
1 2 3 Nagpur: As the world observes World Blood Donor Day 2025 under the theme "Give blood, give hope: Together we save lives," Maharashtra's health minister, Prakash Abitkar, directed officials to urgently implement a "No Shortage, No Wastage" policy. The policy aims to ensure timely access to safe blood for patients while also curbing avoidable wastage due to poor coordination. "Blood is a national resource, and its collection, storage, and use must be meticulously managed," said Abitkar during a state-level review of blood services. He noted that seasonal imbalances, such as massive blood collection during national events or birthdays of politicians, often contrast with shortfalls during festivals and summer, creating a mismatch in supply and demand. He directed health authorities to design and submit a comprehensive policy immediately. The state govt also plans to introduce new rules for granting NOCs to blood bank operators and explore NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) in govt blood banks for higher safety. Meanwhile, Dr Sunil Khaparde, former director of NACO and now a city-based national expert on blood safety, raised alarm over India's growing dependence on paid or professional donors, despite legal bans. "With a demand of 1.2 crore units annually, we still fall short by over 30 lakh units. The deficit often drives patients to the underground 'Red Market,' where ethics and safety are routinely compromised," said Dr Khaparde. He stressed that while portals like e-RaktKosh and govt campaigns have made strides, the absence of a centralized national blood collection agency is keenly felt. "Even today, much of our blood supply comes from professional donors or family replacements. Genuine voluntary donation remains under 50%," he noted. Dr Harish Warbhe, medical director of Lifeline Blood Centre in the city, emphasized the health benefits of voluntary donation even for the donors themselves. "Regular voluntary blood donation not only saves lives but also stimulates the donor's bone marrow to produce fresh, healthier blood cells. It reduces iron overload in the body and gives a sense of purpose and community connection. It's a simple act with profound benefits — for recipients and donors alike," he said. India's Blood Gap: Key Facts India needs around 1.2 crore units of blood every year Only about 90 lakh units are collected annually This leads to a shortfall of approximately 30 lakh units each year In the summer months, the shortfall often touches 50%, worsening the crisis India still does not meet the WHO-recommended 1% blood reserve based on the total population Less than 50% of blood donations are truly voluntary; the rest come from relatives if patients Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
