The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sounded the alarm on persistent inequalities in access to safe blood, even as global donations have risen.
WHO reports that global blood collections rose by nearly 19 percent between 2013 and 2023, with voluntary unpaid donors now accounting for more than 85 percent of the estimated 120 million donations received last year.
Despite this progress, access remains uneven. High‑income countries, home to just 15 percent of the world’s population, collect 36 percent of all donations, while many lower‑income nations face chronic shortages.
“No one should die because they cannot access safe blood when they need it,” said WHO Director‑General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, urging governments to invest in strong national blood systems and support voluntary donors.
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According to the WHO dataset, covering 168 countries and 97 percent of the global population, donation rates vary dramatically from 0.4 to 53 per 1,000 people. In 24 countries, fewer than five donations per 1,000 are collected, leaving patients at risk during childbirth, surgery, or emergencies.
The report also highlights governance and financing gaps. Nearly one‑third of countries lack legislation to ensure blood safety, only 64 percent conduct regular inspections of blood services, and more than one in seven have no dedicated budget or cost‑recovery mechanisms for blood supplies.
Ahead of World Blood Donor Day on June 14, WHO is calling for stronger regulation, sustainable funding, and expanded donor recruitment under the campaign theme “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.”
