— COLLEGE STUDENTS MUST COMMIT TO AT LEAST ONE BLOOD DONATION A YEAR: DR BALBIR SINGH
— CALLS UPON VOLUNTEERS TO TRANSFORM FROM ‘STAR DONORS’ INTO ‘STAR MOTIVATORS’ TO INSPIRE THE MASSES
— HEALTH MINISTER DIRECTS DEPARTMENT TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO BRING STATE’S HEPATITIS-C POSITIVITY RATE BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGE
— PUNJAB SECURES 3rd POSITION NATIONALLY IN VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION; COLLECTS OVER 5.44 LAKH UNITS WITH 99.6% VOLUNTARY COLLECTION IN GOVT CENTRES
— PATHANKOT HONOURED AS ‘SAKSHAM DISTRICT’, SIX OTHERS FELICITATED AS ‘SURAKSHIT DISTRICTS’ FOR COMMENDABLE PROGRESS TOWARDS HIV 95–95–95 TARGETS
CHANDIGARH, October 5:
Reiterating the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government’s resolve to make safe blood accessible to all, Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday felicitated outstanding blood donors, donor organisations, and blood centres during a state-level function organised at Municipal Bhawan here to commemorate National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.
At the event, the Health Minister also celebrated Punjab’s stellar feat of securing third position across the nation in voluntary blood donation per million population on the Union Government’s e-RaktKosh portal, while leading the country in repeat voluntary donors. On this occasion, Dr Balbir Singh also released a special commemorative souvenir of the Punjab State Blood Transfusion Council (PSBTC), encapsulating the milestones, best practices, and donor achievements across the state.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Balbir Singh laid stress on four key focal areas to transform healthcare and blood transfusion services in the state. He gave a clarion call to the youth, urging that every college student must pledge to donate blood at least once a year.
Exhorting active blood donors to step up as champions of the cause, he said, “You have proved your commitment through your selfless deeds. Now is the time to transition from ‘Star Donors’ to ‘Star Motivators’ so that you inspire thousands of others, particularly youngsters, to come forward and save lives.”
Expressing concern over the prevalence of Hepatitis C in the region, the Health Minister directed the Health Department to work on a mission mode to bring Punjab’s Hepatitis C positivity rate well below the national average through rigorous screening, comprehensive tracking, early treatment linkage, and strict blood safety protocols.
He reiterated that the government is strengthening transfusion safety by introducing advanced Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA) to reduce diagnostic window periods and eliminate transmission risks of infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.
Underlining the state’s achievements, Dr Balbir Singh said Punjab has built a robust transfusion ecosystem comprising 198 licensed blood centres (49 government, 7 military, and 142 private/trust-run). During 2025–26, a total of 5,44,167 blood units were collected across the state through 6,583 donation camps. Out of the 1,78,382 units collected at government blood centres, an astounding 1,77,583 units—nearly 99.6 per cent—were contributed by voluntary blood donors.
Dispelling lingering myths, Dr Balbir Singh said, “Blood donation causes no weakness or deficiency in the body. Good health is life’s true treasure, and regular donation keeps you vibrant while saving lives. Let us make regular voluntary blood donation a continuous social movement in Punjab.”
During the state-level felicitation, PBG Welfare Club, Kotkapura, bagged the first position among voluntary blood donation organisations for collecting and supplying 8,933 blood units to government centres. Among male donors, Surinder Pal of Bathinda was honoured for securing the top spot in Punjab by donating blood 149 times, while among female donors, Harwinder Kaur of Jalandhar stood first by donating 69 times.
In total, 17 centurion male donors (100+ donations), 18 female donors (25+ donations), four specially-abled donors, 12 single-donor platelet (SDP) apheresis donors, and six voluntary organisations were felicitated. Retired Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Bagga was conferred the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing services to voluntary blood transfusion.
Patiala and Sangrur were adjudged the best-performing districts alongside honours for blood centres exhibiting minimal discard rates, highest component separations, and dedicated supplies for thalassaemia patients. The Department of Transfusion Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh, and Government Medical College, Sector-32, Chandigarh, were also honoured for their stellar leadership and academic training support.
Marking significant strides in HIV control, the Minister also honoured districts achieving commendable milestones under the HIV 95–95–95 cascade targets of the Punjab State AIDS Control Society (PSACS). Pathankot was honoured as a ‘Saksham District’, while Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Amritsar, Kapurthala, SAS Nagar (Mohali), and Bathinda were awarded the title of ‘Surakshit Districts’. Dr Balbir Singh noted that early diagnosis, quick ART linkage, high patient retention, and continuous viral load suppression remain key pillars to ending AIDS in Punjab.
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 prominent dignitaries present on the occasion.
