Govt introduces National Blood Transfusion Bill, thalassaemia patients see ray of hope

The government introduced the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025, in the Parliament on Friday. The Bill is being widely appreciated by thalassaemia patients, for whom every blood transfusion is a matter of life and death, across the nation. Patients and advocates are hoping for a long-awaited lifeline, a law that could finally make blood transfusions safer and more reliable nationwide.

The proposed legislation seeks to regulate blood collection and transfusion through a dedicated National Blood Transfusion Authority.

Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce normal haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Because of this defect, people with thalassaemia produce fewer healthy red blood cells, leading to anaemia, a condition where the body doesn’t get enough oxygen.

Blood transfusion is a medical procedure in which a patient receives blood or blood components, such as red blood cells, plasma, or platelets, through an intravenous (IV) line.

In India, this medical procedure is risky for patients due to inconsistent safety standards, unregistered centres, inadequate testing and a lack of nationwide monitoring.

For patients living with the disease, who depend on lifelong blood transfusions, the introduction of the Bill marks a major moment. Many said the law was needed to improve safety and prevent transfusion-transmitted infections.

Suneha Paul, a 23-year-old patient from West Bengal, said she learned of the Bill while returning home from the market. Diagnosed with thalassaemia when she was two months old, she contracted HIV when she was just eight years old, due to an infected blood transfusion.

“Every day is a challenge for patients like me,” she said.

Earlier this month, during the Winter session of the Parliament, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by MP Parshottambhai Rupala and in the Rajya Sabha by Dr Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade.

The bill proposes a uniform legal framework for blood safety. It seeks to regulate the collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution of blood and blood components, make the registration of all blood centres mandatory, establish a haemovigilance system, and set penalties for unsafe or non-compliant practices.

The Thalassaemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG) said the legislation addresses long-standing concerns about fragmented regulation and inconsistent quality standards across states. The group said thousands of patients rely on regular transfusions and need a system that ensures safe and uninterrupted access to blood.

Prof NK Ganguly, former director general of the ICMR, said the Bill offers a framework to improve governance of blood transfusion services. “Strengthening the governance of blood transfusion services is essential for ensuring safety and public trust,” he said.

TPAG member secretary Anubha Taneja Mukherjee said the Bill recognises the urgency of building a strong national system. “For thousands of thalassaemia patients, blood is not a treatment. It is a lifeline,” she said. “We urge Parliament to prioritise and pass this Bill at the earliest.”

Deepak Chopra, president of Thalassemics India, said a uniform law will help address gaps that have persisted for decades and improve patient care.

Thalassaemia patient Nehal Dhingra said the Bill gives hope for safer transfusions. “Safe blood is everything for someone who depends on it to survive,” she said.

Advocacy groups said they would submit detailed comments on the Bill and have urged inclusion of patient representation in bodies created under the new framework. They said timely passage of the Bill was critical, as delays could extend existing gaps and directly affect patients’ lives.