*Haryana tops voluntary blood donation for third year, collects 5.89 lakh units; unveils first disaster plan for blood centres*

 *State holds 8,189 camps against target of 2,000; voluntary donation rate touches 92% as Haryana builds emergency preparedness into blood services*

Chandigarh, October 7 - Haryana ranked first among states in voluntary blood donation for the third consecutive year, collecting 5.89 lakh units through 8,189 camps against targets of 3.30 lakh units and 2,000 camps. It achieved a 92% voluntary donation rate. The state has also drawn up its first disaster management plan for blood centres to maintain blood safety and emergency preparedness, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Dr. Sumita Misra said on Wednesday.

The state was recognised by the Union Health Ministry’s Blood Transfusion Services for recording the highest number of blood donations per million population among states during 2025.

The Haryana State Blood Transfusion Council received the award at a ceremony organised by the Blood Transfusion Services, Directorate General of Health Services, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi on October 1 to mark National Voluntary Blood Donation Day. “Achieving the first position in the country for voluntary blood donation for three consecutive years is a matter of immense pride for Haryana,” Dr. Misra said.

She attributed the achievement to blood centre teams, voluntary donors, youth networks, NGOs, the Red Cross and other stakeholders involved in blood transfusion services.

Haryana organised 8,189 blood donation camps against a target of 2,000, more than four times the goal. It collected 5.89 lakh units against the Centre's target of 3.30 lakh units, exceeding it by nearly 78%. Voluntary donations accounted for 92% of the state’s blood collection.

The state operates 162 blood centres, 92% of which are equipped with component separation units. Single Donor Platelets are available at 12 government hospitals and medical colleges and are provided free of charge to eligible dengue patients, and those below the poverty line referred to government hospitals.

The Health Department has also formulated Haryana’s first disaster management plan dedicated to blood centres, an initiative designed to strengthen blood safety and ensure preparedness during emergencies and disasters.

Special campaigns contributed significantly to blood collection. A statewide blood donation drive yielded 10,183 units, while drives associated with the 350th anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's martyrdom collected 40,224 units. Women-focused initiatives were also undertaken under the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan.

Dr. Misra said Haryana remained committed to ensuring a “safe, equitable, accessible and timely” supply of blood and blood components and urged regular non-remunerated voluntary donors to continue donating and encourage others to participate.

She also congratulated Director General Health Services Dr. Manish Bansal, Haryana State Blood Transfusion Services Member Secretary-cum-Project Director AIDS Dr. Mukta Kumar and the state’s blood safety teams.

“True service is measured by the lives it quietly transforms,” Dr. Misra said, adding that the state would continue strengthening voluntary blood donation and safe blood transfusion services.