Key messages

  • The world needs enough safe blood for everyone in need.
  • Every few seconds, someone, somewhere, needs blood.
  • Transfusions of blood and blood products save millions of lives every year.
  • Health is a human right; everyone in the world should have access to safe blood transfusions, when and where they need them.
  • Regular blood donations are needed all over the world to ensure individuals and communities have access to safe and quality-assured blood and blood products.
  • Everyone who can donate blood should consider making regular voluntary, unpaid donations, so that all countries have adequate blood supplies.
  • Ensuring the safety and well-being of blood donors is critical; it helps build commitment to regular donations.
  • Access to safe blood and blood product is essential for universal health coverage and a key component of effective health systems.
  • Blood and blood products are essential to care for:
    • women with pregnancy and childbirth associated bleeding;
    • children with severe anaemia due to malaria and malnutrition;
    • patients with blood and bone marrow disorders, inherited disorders of haemoglobin and immune deficiency conditions;
    • people with traumatic injuries in emergencies, disasters and accidents; and
    • patients undergoing advanced medical and surgical procedures.

     

  • The need for blood and blood products is universal, but access to safe blood and blood products varies greatly across and within countries.
  • In many countries, it is challenging for blood services to make sufficient blood and blood products available, while also ensuring its quality and safety.
  • Governments, national health authorities and national blood services must work together to:
    • ensure systems and infrastructure are in place to increase collection of blood from voluntary, regular unpaid donors;
    • establish and strengthen quality assurance systems for blood and blood products to ensure safe blood and blood products;
    • provide quality donor care;
    • promote and implement appropriate clinical use of blood; and
    • oversee the whole chain of blood transfusion.