Every two years since 1998 the World Health Organization (WHO) has collected data on blood safety and availability. The WHO 2016 global status report contains data from 180 countries, representing 98.3% of the world’s population. Worldwide, over 112 million blood donations were collected during the 2013 survey, but blood availability and safety were found to vary by region and income group. For example, 47% of blood donations were collected from high income countries with 19% of the global population. In addition, blood donations from repeat donors varied widely from less than 0.1% to 100% (median 45%); low and middle income countries tended to lack repeat donors and had higher rates of discarded blood. Significant differences in blood use were also found based on income. In higher income countries, 79% of transfusions were for supportive care during surgeries, trauma, or therapy for cancers. In low-and-middle-income countries, 67% of transfusions were for children under 5 years old, followed by transfusions for women due to pregnancy-related complications. The report concludes that governments and partners need to “scale up efforts in implementing the WHO blood safety strategies and improving the safe and sufficient supply of blood and blood products throughout the world.”
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