The Government of India has proposed standardised guidelines for animal blood transfusion and blood banking, aiming to strengthen emergency and critical veterinary care. The draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would create a national framework for veterinary transfusion medicine—currently unregulated and inconsistent.
Why It Matters
India has over 530 million livestock and 125 million companion animals, yet blood transfusion practices remain ad hoc. Most procedures rely on unscreened, hospital-available, or client-owned donors, raising risks in safety and efficacy. The SOP seeks to introduce ethical, scientific protocols for donor selection, blood collection, storage, and transfusion.
Key Provisions
- Species-specific guidelines for blood volume and typing (e.g., cattle have 11 blood groups, dogs 9, cats 4).
- Strict criteria for healthy donors, with regulated donation frequency.
- Veterinary blood banks in colleges, referral hospitals, and multi-speciality centres, operating 24/7 with five-year record-keeping.
- A National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) with digital donor registries, real-time inventory, and helplines.
- Ethical framework banning monetary incentives—donations must be voluntary with owner consent.
The Road Ahead
By formalising transfusion medicine, India aims to save animal lives during trauma, surgery, infections, and other critical conditions. Digital integration and a nationwide blood bank network promise faster, safer, and more accessible veterinary care.
