In a major step towards improving blood transfusion support in India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the country’s first-ever national Rare Blood Donor Registry. This new initiative aims to help patients with rare and uncommon blood types, especially those with conditions like thalassemia and sickle cell disease, who need frequent and carefully matched transfusions.
Why Is This Important?
India faces a high demand for blood due to:
- Over 1–1.5 lakh thalassemia patients need repeated transfusions
- High rates of road accidents, surgeries, cancer treatments, and pregnancy complications
- A large population with limited access to rare blood types
Until now, most blood banks only check for basic blood group antigens like ABO and RhD. However, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) recognizes over 360 antigens in 47 blood group systems. Not matching these minor antigens can lead to alloimmunization, making future transfusions risky or ineffective.
What Is the Rare Donor Registry?
The ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH) has developed the Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI). It includes:
- 600+ donors negative for important antigen combinations
- 250 extremely rare blood type donors
- 170 Bombay blood group donors, one of the most needed rare types in India
A web-based portal has been created to help track, request, and deliver rare blood units to patients across India.
What’s Next?
ICMR is working with the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to integrate this new registry with e-Raktakosh, India’s digital blood bank platform. Once integrated, this system will:
- Allow blood banks to contribute data on rare blood donors
- Help doctors and patients find rare blood faster
- Ensure timely and safe transfusions nationwide
The Director of ICMR-CRHCM emphasized that India is not yet a global contributor to rare donor registries, unlike 27 other countries. But this launch marks a significant shift in making India ready for advanced transfusion support.
At The Doctorpreneur Academy, we strongly support healthcare innovations like the Rare Blood Donor Registry that combine clinical science, technology, and public health needs. This is a powerful step toward saving lives, especially for patients who face transfusion complications due to rare blood types.
💡 Are you a doctor, lab professional, or health entrepreneur interested in improving transfusion care and patient safety?
Join The Doctorpreneur Academy to stay informed, get trained, and connect with experts shaping the future of Indian healthcare.
👉 Click here to become part of India’s most active doctor-entrepreneur community.
👉 To register for our next masterclass, please click here https://linktr.ee/docpreneur
