Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday felicitated outstanding blood donors, voluntary blood donation organisations and blood centres at a state-level function held at Municipal Bhawan to mark National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

Punjab was also recognised for securing third position nationally in voluntary blood donation per million population on the Union Government’s e-RaktKosh portal. The state has also recorded the highest number of repeat voluntary blood donors in the country.

During the event, Dr Balbir Singh released a special commemorative souvenir of the Punjab State Blood Transfusion Council (PSBTC), highlighting the state’s achievements, best practices and contributions of voluntary blood donors.

Minister Calls on Youth to Donate Blood Regularly

Addressing the gathering, Dr Balbir Singh outlined four key focus areas aimed at strengthening healthcare and blood transfusion services in Punjab. He appealed to young people, particularly college students, to pledge to donate blood at least once every year.

Calling upon regular donors to become ambassadors of voluntary blood donation, the minister said that those who have already contributed repeatedly should now motivate others, especially youngsters, to join the cause and help save lives.

Focus on Hepatitis C and Blood Safety

The minister expressed concern over the prevalence of Hepatitis C in the region and directed the Health Department to work on a mission-mode approach to bring Punjab’s Hepatitis C positivity rate below the national average.

He stressed the need for rigorous screening, systematic tracking, early treatment linkage and strict adherence to blood safety protocols.

Dr Balbir Singh said the government is also strengthening transfusion safety through advanced

Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) technologies. These methods are aimed at reducing diagnostic window periods and lowering the risk of transmission of infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C through blood transfusion.

Punjab Collected Over 5.44 Lakh Blood Units

Punjab currently has 198 licensed blood centres, including 49 government, seven military and 142 private or trust-run centres.

During 2025-26, the state collected 5,44,167 blood units through 6,583 donation camps. Of the 1,78,382 units collected at government blood centres, 1,77,583 units, or nearly 99.6 per cent, were contributed by voluntary donors.

The minister also sought to dispel misconceptions surrounding blood donation, saying that healthy individuals do not suffer weakness or deficiency merely because they donate blood.

Top Donors and Organisations Felicitated

PBG Welfare Club, Kotkapura, secured the first position among voluntary blood donation organisations after collecting and supplying 8,933 blood units to government blood centres.

Among male donors, Surinder Pal of Bathinda was honoured for donating blood 149 times, the highest number in Punjab. Among female donors, Harwinder Kaur of Jalandhar topped the state with 69 donations.

The function also saw the felicitation of 17 male centurion donors with 100 or more donations, 18 female donors with 25 or more donations, four specially-abled donors, 12 single-donor platelet (SDP) apheresis donors and six voluntary organisations.

Retired Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Bagga received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing contribution to voluntary blood transfusion services.

Patiala, Sangrur Among Best-Performing Districts

Patiala and Sangrur were adjudged the best-performing districts. Awards were also presented to blood centres for maintaining minimal discard rates, achieving high component separation and ensuring dedicated supplies for thalassaemia patients.

The Department of Transfusion Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, and Government Medical College, Sector 32, Chandigarh, were also recognised for their contribution to leadership and academic training in transfusion medicine.

Districts Honoured for HIV Control

Dr Balbir Singh also honoured districts that achieved significant milestones under the HIV 95-95-95 cascade targets of the Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS).

Pathankot was recognised as a ‘Saksham District’, while Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Amritsar, Kapurthala, SAS Nagar (Mohali) and Bathinda were awarded the title of ‘Surakshit Districts’.

The minister said early diagnosis, timely linkage to antiretroviral therapy, patient retention and sustained viral load suppression remain crucial to Punjab’s efforts to end AIDS.

Special Secretary Health-cum-Project Director PSACS and Director PSBTC Sakshi Sawhney, Director Health Services Dr Hitinder Kaur, Additional Project Director PSACS Dr Vishal Garg, Joint Director BTS Dr Sunita Devi, Joint Director BSD Dr Sukhwinder Kaur, Joint Director CST Dr Harpreet Kaur, Joint Director Prevention Dr Meenu and Joint Director IEC Pavan Rekha Beri were among the dignitaries present at the event.