New Delhi, 29 March 2022: There are 3840 licensed blood banks (blood centers) in the country. The details of Government and Private licensed blood banks in the country is given at Annexure–A.

The policy of the Government advocates for a hub and spoke approach towards blood transfusion services, wherein blood is collected and processed in the hubs, which are high volume blood banks and distributed through spokes, which are smaller blood banks and blood storage centers. The requirement of blood banks depends upon the health infrastructure of the area. However, blood storage centres can be established in remote areas to meet the emergency requirement of blood, which may be attached to blood banks.

Government of India, through National Health Mission, supports States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including strengthening existing blood banks /supporting new blood banks and blood storage units, and through Blood Transfusion Services also supports 1131 Blood banks in the Public and Charitable sector in respect of manpower, procurement of Blood Bags and testing kits, conducting Voluntary Blood Donation (VBD) camps and Information Education Communication (IEC) activities etc. In addition, Mobile vans for blood collection and blood transportation vans are provided to the States/UTs.

Steps have been taken to engage with different Government departments, voluntary organizations like Indian Red Cross Society, blood donor associations, professional associations and other stakeholders for creating opportunities to donate and raise public awareness on the need for safe blood donation and transfusion in the country. The Government supports various activities like organising blood donation camps, observance of events of Voluntary Blood Donation days and motivating youth groups in coordination with agencies like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, National Service Scheme, Red Ribbon Clubs in various Universities and Colleges, etc. The Government has also made a provision of four special casual leaves per year that can be availed by Central Government employees for donating blood.

Annexure-A

Number of licensed Blood Centres in India State / UT-wise (i.e. up to          23.03.2022)

S.No Name of State Govt. Blood Centres Other than Govt. Blood

Centres

Total
1 Andaman & Nicobar 02 01 03
2 Andhra Pradesh 41 176 217
3 Arunachal Pradesh 12 01 13
4 Assam 46 40 86
5 Bihar 44 62 106
6 Chandigarh 03 01 04
7 Chhattisgarh 36 76 112
8 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and

Daman & Diu

02 01 03
09 NCT of Delhi 25 55 80
10 Goa 03 02 5
11 Gujarat 30 150 180
12 Haryana 27 113 140
13 Himachal Pradesh 20 06 26
14 Jammu & Kashmir 29 07 36
15 Ladakh 03 03
16 Jharkhand 33 33 66
17 Karnataka 42 230 272
18 Kerala 51 150 201
19 Lakshadweep 01 00 01
20 Madhya Pradesh 71 104 175
21 Maharashtra 76 295 371
22 Manipur 04 01 05
23 Meghalaya 09 02 11
24 Mizoram 09 02 11
25 Nagaland 05 1 06
26 Odisha 63 24 87
27 Pondicherry 04 12 16
28 Punjab 52 101 153
29 Rajasthan 66 138 204
30 Sikkim 04 02 06
31 Tamil Nadu 106 227 333
32 Telangana 66 187 253
33 Tripura 11 02 13
34 Uttar Pradesh 114 322 436
35 Uttarakhand 25 28 53
36 West Bengal 109 44 153

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.