The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for all countries to obtain 100 per cent of their supplies of blood and blood products from voluntary unpaid blood donors by 2020.  

In lieu of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, it noted that the need for blood and blood products is increasing every year, and many patients requiring life-saving transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood and blood products.

In 2011, nearly 83 million blood donations were collected worldwide from voluntary unpaid blood donors, an increase of close to 8 million donations from 2004.

“Blood collection from voluntary non-remunerated blood donors is the cornerstone of a safe and sufficient blood supply in all countries. More voluntary blood donors are needed to meet the increasing needs and to improve access to this life-saving therapy,” said Dr Neelam Dhingra, coordinator for Blood Transfusion Safety at WHO. “Furthermore, the safety and quality of blood and blood products should never be compromised.”

Regular voluntary unpaid blood donors are the safest source of blood, as there are fewer blood borne infections among these donors than among people who give blood in exchange for money or who donate for family members in emergencies.  

Currently, 60 countries collect 100 per cent of their blood supply from voluntary unpaid blood donors, said a statement.

Six of these countries have achieved this target from a percentage lower than 75 per cent reported in 2004.

However, more progress is needed, with 73 countries still collecting more than 50 per cent of their blood supply from replacement or paid donors, it said. - TradeArabia News Service