Blood donation in India
s in India are conducted by several organizations and hospitals by organizing blood donation camps. Donors can also visit blood banks in hospitals to donate blood or directly to a receiver. Despite the shortage of donated blood, efforts by the government and various organizations have led to a decrease in the demand and supply gap over the years. The number of voluntary blood donors increased from 54.4% in 2006–2007 to 83.1% in 2011–2012, with the number of blood units increasing from 4.4 million units in 2006–2007 to 9.3 million units in 2012–2013. In 2016, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported a donation of 10.9 million units against a requirement of 12 million units.
Blood donors in India donate around 350 millilitres of blood. After a donation, the donors are provided with refreshments, which usually include a glucose drink, biscuits and fruits. Some organizations offer transportation facilities, apart from providing certificates or badges as a gratitude.
History of blood donation in India
The history of voluntary blood donation in India dates back to 1942 during the second world war when blood donors were required to help the wounded soldiers. The first blood bank was established in Kolkata, West Bengal in March 1942 at the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health and was managed by the Red Cross. The donors were mostly government employees and people from the Anglo-Indian community who donated blood for a humanitarian cause. The number of voluntary donors declined after the war and donors had to be paid for the blood. Leela Moolgaonkar, a social reformer, initiated voluntary blood donation camps in Mumbai from 1954. The 1960s saw many blood banks open in different cities. Under his stewardship in 1975, J. G. Jolly, the president of the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology declared 1 October as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, which has been observed throughout the country ever since.The HIV pandemic in the 1980s led to the government setting up the National AIDS Control Organisation in 1992 to oversee the policies in preventing the spread of AIDS. Subsequently, the National AIDS Control Programme was launched which led to drastic improvements in patient screening and hygienic transfusion procedures. A public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme court in 1996 to abolish the practice of selling blood which became effective on 1 January 1998. Selling or donating blood in exchange of money is illegal under the National Blood Transfusion Services Act 2007 and those found convicted may face a prison sentence of up to three months with fine.
Criteria to donate blood
There are several parameters that determine the eligibility of an individual to donate blood. Guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health, Government of India have to be followed by blood banks and organizations conducting blood donation camps.- Overall health- The donor must be fit and healthy, and should not be suffering from transmittable diseases.
- Age and weight- The donor must be 18–65 years old and should weigh a minimum of 50 kg.
- Pulse rate- Between 50 and 100 without irregularities.
- Hemoglobin level- A minimum of 12.5 g/dL.
- Blood pressure- Diastolic: 50–100 mm Hg, Systolic: 100–180 mm Hg.
- Body temperature- Should be normal, with an oral temperature not exceeding 37.5 °C.
- The time period between successive blood donations should be more than 3 months.
- A person who has been tested HIV positive.
- Individuals suffering from ailments like cardiac arrest, hypertension, blood pressure, cancer, epilepsy, kidney ailments and diabetes.
- A person who has undergone ear/body piercing or tattoo in the past 6 months.
- Individuals who have undergone immunization in the past 1 month.
- Individuals treated for rabies or received Hepatitis B vaccine in the past 6 months.
- A person who has consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours.
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Individuals who have undergone major dental procedures or general surgeries in the past 1 month.
- Women who have had miscarriage in the past 6 months.
- Individuals who have had fits, tuberculosis, asthma and allergic disorders in the past.
Regulatory mechanisms
The National AIDS Control Organisation was formed in 1992 following the outbreak of AIDS. Following a public interest litigation, a verdict by the supreme court in the case of Common Cause vs. the Union of India in January 1992 led to the establishment of National Blood Transfusion Council at the federal level and State Blood Transfusion Councils for all the states to review the status of blood transfusion services in the country and conduct annual monitoring visits to blood banks. While the regulatory authority is entrusted with the task of drug regulation, NACO and NBTC are the main technical bodies that frame guidelines for the practice of transfusion medicine.
The Government of India in 2002 published the National Blood Policy to reiterate the commitment to safe blood and blood components. It documents the strategies for making available adequate resources, technology, and training for improving transfusion services apart from outlining methods for donor motivation and appropriate clinical use of blood by clinicians. It has also taken steps for research and development in transfusion medicine.
Organizations
India has several blood donation organizations, both governmental and non-governmental. Some major organizations operate in many regions throughout the country while others are regional and operate with local support. Along with conducting blood donation camps, these organizations also raise awareness on voluntary blood donation and public health. Most of the organizations have an online portal where donors can register their details and get updates when camps are organized. Some of the major organizations that conduct blood donation camps are enlisted below.Federation of Indian Blood Donors Organisations - FIBDO
www.fibdo.orgLife Savers Association
The Life Savers Association was founded in 2019 and is based in Kolar Gold Fields it is one of the largest blood donation organizations and operates camps throughout Karnataka
Rotary Blood Bank
The Rotary Blood Bank was founded in 2002 and is based in New Delhi. Part of the Rotary International, it is one of the largest blood donation organizations and operates camps throughout the country through their regional branches.Indian Red Cross Society
The Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1920 and has 166 blood banks across the country. It is based in New Delhi and actively conducts blood donation camps in many cities through the Indian Red Cross Blood Bank.BloodConnect Foundation
BloodConnect was founded in 2010 by the students of IIT Delhi and is now the largest youth-run non-profit in the field of blood donation in India. Spread across 20 cities, BloodConnect has a volunteer team in all premier colleges in the country including IIMs, IITs, DU, and PU. Along with running a 24*7 helpline, they organise blood donation camps and awareness sessions across the country.Khoon Organization
Khoon Organization was established in 2016. Based in Bengaluru and operating across India, it is the first organization in the field of blood donation to have a running blood helpline service in the northeast of India.Sankalp India Foundation
was established in 2003. It is based in Bengaluru and operates blood donation camps in the state of Karnataka.Save Life India
A project under 'Volunteer for a Better India', Save Life India is an initiative of the Art Of Living foundation and is based in Margao, Goa. Initially started in Goa in 2014, the organization conducts blood donation camps in many states.Lions Blood Bank
A project by Lions Club, the Lions Blood Bank is based in Chennai and operates blood bank and camps in many cities.ARDAAS - Sarbat Da Bhala (NGO), [Punjab]
ARDAAS - Sarbat Da Bhala is based in Jalandhar Punjab. They are works for needy patients, thalessemia patients & preventing thalessemia by conducting check-ups. Time to Time they organizing Blood Donation and medical checkup Camps for needy Patients.Think Foundation
The Think Foundation is based in Mumbai. It conducts blood donation camps and works for thalessemia patients & preventing thalessemia by conducting check-ups.Athar Blood Bank
is an initiative by Athar Minorities Social and Welfare Association and is based in Solapur, Maharashtra. It was established in 2012 and conducts blood donation camps across the state.Ekam Nyaas
The Ekam Nyaas is based in Ambala. It conducts blood donation camps and Emergency Blood donationOther Blood Donor Networks
Apart from governmental and non-governmental organizations, major hospitals in the country have their own blood banks where blood donation is conducted within the facility. Organizations such as BloodConnect, Indian Blood Donors and Friends2support maintain a database of blood donors which facilitate a network between blood donors and organizations/hospitals.National Thalassemia Welfare Society established in 1991 for care and control of Thalassemia is organizing more than 60 camps every year and collecting over 4000 unit per annum.