ENSURING CONSISTENT, YEAR-ROUND BLOOD DONATION CAN HELP OVERCOME SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS, RESOLVE SUPPLY CHALLENGES: EXPERTS

Educating the public about blood donation, planning ahead to overcome the dip in donations during summer and ensuring comfortable experiences for donors can go a long way in helping meet the supply gap, experts say

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Blood donation in India is highly susceptible to seasonal fluctuations, with academic calendars, weather conditions, and festivals playing a major role in influencing donor turnout. The summer months, in particular, present multiple challenges -- exams and vacations reduce the availability of student donors, while extreme heat and dehydration risks deter participation.

According to a report from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), in 2015-16, blood banks supported by NACO in India collected 63.85 lakh units of blood, with 79% coming from voluntary, non-remunerated donations. Of this collected blood, 69% was separated into components. NACO-supported blood banks accounted for 59.4% of the total blood collected, with 80.5% of their collection being voluntary.

Elections, heatwave conditions and summer vacations hit blood collection

The Voluntary Blood Donation Guidelines by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare state that blood donation rates decline significantly during academic breaks and exam periods, as colleges and universities are key venues for blood donation camps. This is further exacerbated during major national and religious festivals— such as Diwali, Eid, and Christmas , when travel, celebrations, and fasting reduce donor participation.

India’s extreme seasonal weather also hampers blood donation efforts. High summer temperatures lead to dehydration and fatigue, discouraging donors and complicating outdoor blood drives. “The summer months always come with challenges -- vacations reduce access to our primary donor base, heat, dehydration risks, and cultural factors all contribute,” said Anish P., assistant director (Voluntary Blood Donation), Kerala State Blood Transfusion Council (KSBTC).