Chennai: Calling for a shift away from replacement blood donation in hospitals, health minister K G Arunraj on Wednesday said that Tamil Nadu has exceeded its blood collection target for 2025–26, gathering 4.51 lakh units through govt blood centres, marginally above the 4.50 lakh-unit goal set by the Centre.Total blood collections reached 9.53 lakh units during the year across govt and private facilities, with 4,874 voluntary donation camps helping the state achieve 101% of its target. “But doctors at govt hospitals continue to ask for replacement blood. To change this, more people must donate blood,” said Arunraj after donating blood at a World Blood Donor Day event at the Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital at Omandurar Estate.Earlier, the minister launched a drive to enroll new donors through the e-RaktKosh platform, supported by a QR code system, and unveiled a revamped website for the Tamil Nadu State Blood Transfusion Board. He said TN is a leading state in voluntary blood donation, supported by a network of 101 govt blood centres, 273 private centres and 420 storage units, along with mobile collection services.He urged hospital and blood bank administrators to coordinate with educational institutions, factories and corporates, and draw up a year-long calendar blood donation camps to ensure a continuous supply of blood.He also asked doctors to ensure rational use of blood and its components to reduce wastage and avoid complications, pointing out that while hospitals such as CMC Vellore separate more than 95% of donated blood into components, saving multiple lives, govt hospitals lag. Blood from one donation is usually separated into red blood cells, platelets, plasma and cryoprecipitate, rather than used as a whole. This lets hospitals treat patients with specific needs, maximises the use of each donation, and reduces unnecessary exposure to extra blood products. “This way we can save lives for four people from one unit of blood. The state will provide necessary resources and equipment for this,” he said.Repeat donors, including those who have donated blood up to 50 times, were honoured at the event, where senior health officials and doctors also donated blood.
