Road blocks in achieving a 100% voluntary blood donation rate in the South Asian region

Voluntary blood donation rates are not high in the South Asian region, except in a few countries. The reasons for this are outlined and the roadblocks for improvement of the situation noted. The need for increased planning, both regionally and nationally, is emphasized and some factors that inhibit voluntary blood donation are mentioned. There is a real need to move from a system of reliance on ‘replacement’ donors to a fully nonremunerated voluntary blood donation system, and the examples and lessons from successful countries should be carefully studied.