KARACHI: Pakistan faces a critical shortage of safe blood and blood products, leading to death and morbidity in countless cases every year. Currently, over 90 per cent of donations are still based on ‘replacement’. The state and society must come forward and play their role in promoting the culture of voluntary blood donation.

This was the gist of the messages shared by the healthcare professionals and officials on World Blood Donor Day, which is observed every year on June 14.

This year’s theme is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”

In its message, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) highlighted that Pakistan faces a significant deficit in its annual blood collection, receiving less than half of the estimated five million units required.

On World Blood Donor Day, experts underscore country’s critical shortfall in safe blood supply

“A concerning statistic brought forward by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that only about 10-18pc of blood donations in Pakistan are voluntary, with the vast majority coming from family or replacement donors,” the association stated.

It emphasised that voluntary, unpaid blood donations are not only the safest but also the most sustainable source, as voluntary donors are less likely to transmit infectious diseases.

The PMA underscored the life-saving impact of blood donation, stating that a single unit of blood can save up to three lives. It stressed the urgent need for a shift towards a culture of voluntary blood donation to ensure a stable and sufficient blood supply for patients undergoing surgeries, childbirth and those suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, thalassaemia and haemophilia.

It also called upon the government and all stakeholders to invest in and sustain national blood programmes, emphasising the importance of robust screening and testing protocols to ensure the safety of blood products. The association urged healthy individuals, particularly the youth, to recognise their civic duty and contribute to this humanitarian cause by becoming regular blood donors.

Meanwhile, a programme titled the Indus Zindagi Blood Donor Recognition Ceremony was organised by the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN).

It celebrated the commitment of corporates, educational institutes, industry partners and individual blood donors for their support towards the hospital’s mission of voluntary blood donation to save countless lives.

In her remarks, Dr Saba Jamal, senior director of the blood transfusion services directorate at IHHN, said the nationwide initiative aimed to tackle the country’s urgent blood shortage — where over 90pc of donations were still based on replacement — by inspiring a cultural shift towards 100pc voluntary contributions.

“The Indus Zindagi is more than a campaign. It’s a movement that uses the power of storytelling and civic engagement to reshape the culture of blood donation in Pakistan. Our donors and youth advocates were the true champions,” she added.

The event marked the conclusion of the second edition of the Indus Zindagi National Video Competition, part of IHHN’s larger campaign to promote voluntary blood donation across Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2025