PAHO: Voluntary blood donation rises in Latin America and the Caribbean, but challenges remain – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, June 12, 2025 (PAHO) – Before the World Blood Donor Day, observed on June 14, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has published new data that shows progress in voluntary blood donation in the Americas. However, there are key challenges to achieve 100% voluntary donations.

The preliminary report, access to blood for transfusion in Latin American and Caribbean countries 2023, shows that 23 countries, 17 in Latin America and 6 Caribbean nations that do not speak in Spanish, 9,212,861 blood units were placed in 2023, marking an increase of 15.5% compared to 7,776,198 units collected in 2020. Post-pandemic recovery awareness.

«Equitable access to safe blood is a right for all people and can only be guaranteed through well -organized and efficient systems based on a regular, voluntary and unpaid donation,» said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of the PAHO. «We are grateful to those who generously give and encourage more people to join this act of solidarity that save lives,» he added.

The region averages 16 blood donations per 1,000 inhabitants, but the disparities persist: 13 countries fall below this average, while 10 exceed it. Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina represent 75% of the total donations.

In 2023, 56.8% of donated blood came from volunteer donors, an increase of 6.7% compared to 2019, which represents the pre-pandemic growth trend. This progress was promoted by digital campaigns, mobile units and institutional associations. The remaining donations come from family members or nearby contacts who responded to direct applications. No country reported payments, highlighting the region’s commitment to altruistic donations.

Mauricio Beltrán, Regional Blood Services Advisor of Paho, emphasized that equitable access and a constant supply of safe blood and plasma depend on voluntary and unpaid donation. «We need more regular altruistic donors,» he said, explaining that this type of donation avoids shortage and provides more sustainable access compared to unique family donations, which, although valuable, tend to be reactive.

The report also highlights the improvements in safety and quality: 100% of the donated units were examined to detect transmissible transfusion infections, and 90% were fractional into components such as red blood cells, plasma and platelets, optimizing clinical use.

However, national and regional blood systems continue to face structural challenges. More than 1,900 collection sites and 1,400 processing centers operate independently, which limits efficiency. Only four countries processed more than 10,000 units per year on average, with Paraguay leading 20,706 units.

Blood transfusions are essential to treat postpartum bleeding, childhood anemia due to malnutrition or malaria, disaster related lesions and complex surgical procedures. PAHO urges governments to invest in efficient national blood systems, promote voluntary donation and strengthen supervision to ensure equitable and safe access.

This year’s World Blood Donor Day campaign, under the theme «Give Blood, Give Hope: Together, we save lives», aims to raise awareness, inspire new donors and thank those whose generosity helps save lives.