New data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows sustained progress towards safer blood supplies around the world, but also highlights persistent inequalities in access to safe blood and weaknesses in blood system governance, financing and regulation.
Global blood collection increased by nearly 19% between 2013 and 2023, according to data collected from 132 countries. Voluntary and unpaid blood donors continued to drive this progress, accounting for more than 85% of the estimated 120 million blood donations received in 2023.
Despite these advances, access to safe blood and blood products remains highly unequal around the world. Many patients, including women experiencing life-threatening hemorrhage during childbirth, children with severe anemia, trauma and burn victims, patients undergoing surgery, and people living with conditions such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, hemophilia, immunodeficiency and certain cancers, continue to lack reliable access to safe blood and life-saving transfusions, especially in low-income countries.
No one should die because safe blood is not available when they need it. While these data represent encouraging progress, particularly in the increasing contribution of voluntary, unpaid blood donors around the world, who are the basis of a safe and sustainable blood supply, they also remind us that where a person lives can determine whether they receive the blood transfusions they need. Governments must continue to invest in a strong and sustainable national blood system and continue to support voluntary, unpaid blood donors whose generosity saves millions of lives every year. ”
Dr. AS WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Persistent inequalities in blood availability
Although high-income countries make up only 15% of the world’s population, they collect 36% of all blood donations worldwide. In contrast, many low-income countries continue to face blood supply shortages due to limited funding, weak infrastructure, logistical barriers, and inadequate donor recruitment.
Blood donation rates vary widely between countries, ranging from 0.4 to 53 blood donations per 1,000 people. Twenty-four countries reported collecting fewer than 5 blood donations per 1000 people, reflecting severe constraints in providing timely blood transfusions to patients in need.
The proportion of blood collected from voluntary, unpaid donors also varies widely depending on a country’s income level. In high-income countries, such donations account for 98.4% of all blood donations, but in low-income countries this figure drops to 63.4%. In low-income countries, health systems often struggle to maintain an adequate and reliable blood supply.
Stronger governance and financing needed
Safe blood depends on strong governance and regulation of the blood system, as well as sustained involvement and involvement of blood donors. According to WHO analysis, nearly a third of countries still do not have specific legislation in place to ensure the safety and quality of blood and blood products. Only 64% of countries report regular testing systems for blood services, 62% have accreditation systems, and only 40% have at least some blood transfusion services accredited, highlighting critical gaps in quality assurance throughout the safe blood supply chain.
Sustainable financing remains a major challenge. More than one in seven countries reportedly lack a dedicated government budget allocation or cost recovery mechanism for blood services, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the country’s blood supply.
As part of its efforts to build resilient and equitable health systems, WHO is calling on countries and partners to strengthen governance and regulation of blood services, ensure sustainable financing, scale up quality assurance programs, improve clinical transfusion practices, and strengthen surveillance and data systems that support evidence-based decision-making. These measures are essential to ensure universal access to safe, effective and quality-assured blood and blood products, regardless of where people live.
WHO is releasing this latest dataset ahead of World Blood Donor Day, which is celebrated on June 14 every year. This year’s campaign slogan is “One drop of humanity. Donate blood. Save a life.” We recognize the contributions of voluntary, unpaid blood donors and highlight how every blood donation supports patients in need, strengthens communities, and contributes to resilient health systems.
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