Patients welcome introduction of the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025

Thalassaemia patients have welcomed the introduction of the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025, in Parliament on Friday (December 12, 2025). The proposed legislation seeks to create a dedicated National Blood Transfusion Authority, set uniform national standards for the collection, testing, processing, storage, distribution, issuance and transfusion of blood and blood components, mandate registration of all blood centres, promote voluntary blood donation, and introduce strict penalties for unsafe or non-compliant practices.

“These provisions directly address long standing concerns faced by patients, caregivers, and clinicians due to fragmented regulation and inconsistent quality,” the Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG) said. It added that the reform offers hope for a safer, more accountable and more efficient blood ecosystem.

N.K. Ganguly, former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, said, “Strengthening the governance of blood transfusion services is essential for ensuring safety and public trust. The proposed Bill provides a science-based framework to streamline standards and improve patient outcomes.”

Anubha Taneja Mukherjee, member secretary, TPAG, said, “For thousands of thalassaemia patients, blood is not a treatment. It is a lifeline. The Bill recognise the urgency of building a strong and unified national framework to ensure safe and equitable access to quality blood.”