Jaipur: Voluntary blood donors now contribute nearly three-fourths of the blood collected in government-run blood banks in Rajasthan, significantly reducing dependence on patients' relatives for life-saving transfusions, health department officials said ahead of World Blood Donor Day on June 14.
Blood Collection Statistics
The state collects around nine lakh units of blood annually, of which nearly four lakh units are collected through government blood banks. Of this, about 73% comes from voluntary donors, while the remaining 27% is collected as replacement donations from relatives or attendants of patients.
Importance of Voluntary Donation
Officials said increasing voluntary blood donation remains crucial to ensuring uninterrupted availability of blood and preventing delays in treatment. Despite progress, the continued reliance on replacement donors highlights the need to further expand the voluntary donor base across the state.
Initiatives by SMS Medical College
SMS Medical College has launched initiatives to encourage more people to donate blood voluntarily. “To promote voluntary blood donation, on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, 2026, every voluntary blood donor donating blood at the Blood Center of SMS Hospital will be honoured as an encouragement,” said Dr Bheem Singh Meena, nodal officer, Nucleic Acid Testing and Chemiluminescent Immunoassay at SMS Medical College.
Blood Donation Camp and Plantation Drive
As part of nationwide activities being organised by the Association of Surgeons of India, the Rajasthan chapter conducted a blood donation camp at SMS Hospital on Saturday. A plantation drive was also organised alongside the camp to spread awareness about environmental conservation.
Doctors, resident doctors and medical students participated in large numbers, donating blood and promoting the message of voluntary service. Organisers said the primary objective was to ensure adequate blood availability for patients and increase awareness about the importance of regular blood donation.
Impact of Blood Donation Camps
They noted that such camps play a vital role in addressing blood shortages, particularly for patients who require frequent transfusions. Doctors said a single unit of blood can help save multiple lives, making voluntary donation a critical component of the healthcare system.
