Modern medicine can do almost anything, except make blood: Here’s why that matters

Modern medicine can replace joints, transplant organs, and even use artificial intelligence to assist in diagnosis. But, for all its advances, it has not found a way to manufacture human blood.Every bag of blood available in a hospital today has come from a person who chose to donate it.That simple fact makes blood donation unlike almost any other act of public service. It is not something that can be produced in a factory, imported at scale during emergencies, or generated in a laboratory when supplies run low. When a patient needs blood, another human being must have donated it.And that need is far greater than many people realise. Every day, blood is used in emergency surgeries, cancer treatment, childbirth complications, trauma care, organ transplants, and for patients living with lifelong conditions such as thalassemia.

For many of these individuals, blood is not just part of treatment. It is treatment.As Ms Anubha Taneja Mukherjee, Member Secretary of Thalassemia Patient Advocacy Groups (TPAG), pointed out, voluntary blood donation is not merely a generous act; it is a shared social responsibility that keeps healthcare systems functioning and gives patients a chance at survival.

Blood is needed every day, not just during emergencies

Thousands of patients require transfusions on a routine basis.

Children and adults living with thalassemia often need blood every few weeks throughout their lives. Cancer patients may need transfusions during chemotherapy.The challenge is that blood has a limited shelf life. Hospitals cannot stockpile it indefinitely. A unit used today must be replaced by another donor tomorrow.That is why experts repeatedly stress that blood donation should be a regular habit rather than a response to a crisis.

For patients with chronic conditions, donors become lifelines

For many people, blood donation feels like a small act that takes less than an hour. For the recipient, however, it can mean another month with family, another birthday, another chance to continue treatment.Every blood shortage represents a moment when someone's treatment may be delayed, compromised, or placed at risk.

Safe blood is not just about quantity. It is about quality too

Encouraging more people to donate is only one part of the solution. Ensuring that donated blood is as safe as possible is equally important.Dr Sandeep Sewlikar, Vice President, Medical, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Roche Diagnostics India, explained, "Voluntary blood donation is crucial in India because our vast population generates a massive daily demand for transfusions, often resulting in an annual shortfall of millions of units. This supply gap makes regular donors an irreplaceable lifeline for vulnerable patients, especially those managing thalassemia, battling cancer, or waiting for critical transplants.

As healthcare professionals, we have a clear responsibility to ensure this is backed by the highest safety standards. That means upgrading our blood safety to quality-driven care by adding advanced screening like Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) alongside standard protocols."Blood donated in India is routinely screened for infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and malaria before it can be used.

Health authorities continue to strengthen quality assurance systems and blood safety programmes across the country.The goal is simple: every patient should receive blood that is both available and safe.

Blood donation is also an investment in public health

A healthcare system with reliable blood supplies is more resilient, better prepared for emergencies, and capable of delivering timely treatment across a wide range of medical conditions.Dr Sewlikar further noted, "Doing what’s right for patients is also significant for our economy.

A study published in the Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion shows that adopting NAT nationwide could save an estimated ₹9,205 crore annually, proving cost-effective across every state and union territory. Better blood systems do not just save lives. They can also reduce healthcare costs, prevent complications, and strengthen public health infrastructure.Medical experts consultedThis article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by:Ms Anubha Taneja Mukherjee, Member Secretary, Thalassemia Patient Advocacy Groups (TPAG).Dr Sandeep Sewlikar, Vice President, Medical, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Roche Diagnostics India.Inputs were used to highlight the life-saving importance of voluntary blood donation, the persistent gap between blood demand and supply, and why regular donors remain the only source of a resource that cannot be manufactured despite advances in modern medicine.