With the rapid expansion of health care facilities, need for safe blood supply is ever growing in order to provide the essential health services in Bangladesh. Compiled reports from blood transfusion centers under public and private sectors revealed that over 600,000 units of blood were collected in 2016 against an estimated demand of 800,000.
There are 319 blood transfusion centers in the country providing blood transfusion services covering both the public and private sectors. However, Bangladesh has received only 31 percent of its blood from voluntary donors. This number is very low, compared to other countries in South-East Asia, such as Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, where the number reaches as high as 95 percent. More than two thirds of blood donations come from relatives and friends of the patients.
Recently, an assessment conducted by WHO in 2016 in 20 districts hospitals has revealed that among activities of blood centers related to blood donor and blood collection, only half of the public blood centers were engaged in blood donor recruitment, in contrast to 80 percent in private sector. None of the public sector blood centers, as opposed to 60 percent of private sector ones, had dedicated unit and staff for blood donor program. Only half of the district health facilities had kept a stock of blood for later use, and 41.4 percent faced shortage of supply during the reporting period. This indicates a general gap between blood demand and supply.
World Health Organization (WHO), Country Office for Bangladesh, has supported the National Safe Blood Transfusion Program, under Ministry of Health and Welfare to develop blood donor recruitment guidelines and the formulation of the National Blood Policy. Furthermore, WHO provided technical assistance in the development of the National Strategy for Voluntary Blood Donation an important component for an increased blood donation.
On the eve of observance of the world blood donor day 2017, greater efforts are needed for the development of the National Voluntary Blood Program in Bangladesh. A strong and sustained advocacy is required for coordination and collaboration among the voluntary blood donor organizations and public sector to meet the country’s demand of blood supply.