A landmark University of Washington study reveals that 119 out of 195 countries lack sufficient blood units to meet critical medical needs.
Blood plays a crucial role in our bodies, transporting oxygen, nutrients, cellular waste like CO2 and nitrogenous compounds, and hormones to organs. It also regulates body temperature, pH balance, and ion levels while providing protection against hemorrhages and infections.
Historically, bloodletting was common for trauma treatment, but transfusion therapy emerged in the 19th century. Today, blood transfusions save millions of lives annually—yet global supplies fall short.
Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed global blood supply and demand, publishing their findings in The Lancet. The study shows 119 countries cannot meet needs.
“Previous research focused on blood safety risks like HIV transmission,” says lead author Christina Fitzmaurice. “Ours is the first to pinpoint critical shortages. Governments must boost donations, expand services, and explore alternatives.”
The team estimated blood needs for 20 medical conditions using 2017 Global Burden of Disease data across 195 countries. They calculated transfusion requirements per patient and compared them to available units.
In 2017, global availability reached about 272 million units, while demand exceeded 300 million. In the 119 deficient countries, the shortfall topped 100 million units.
Low- and middle-income nations in central, eastern, and sub-Saharan Africa, plus South Asia, suffer most. South Sudan has just 46 units per 100,000 people; India's demand surpasses supply by over 400%. The gap will widen without intervention.
“As healthcare access grows in these regions, transfusion demand will surge,” notes co-author Meghan Delaney. “Financial, structural, and regulatory support is essential to close this divide.”
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