The Prathama Blood Center was established in 2000 in Ahmedabad, India to address unsafe blood banking practices and make blood donation voluntary and non-remunerated. It operates based on three principles: 100% voluntary and non-paid donations, 100% componentization of blood, and providing blood to patients without requiring replacement donations. In its first 10 years, Prathama provided over 1 million blood components to 3000 doctors annually, met 60% of Ahmedabad's blood needs, and distributed blood to remote areas. It was recognized for its impact in reducing maternal mortality and as the top blood bank in Gujarat.

1. The Story of India’s Model Blood Bank 2012
Till 90s, Indian blood banking was marred with unsafe blood
banking practices where patients’ safety was at stake. Blood
was scares resource and blood banks mushroomed to exploit
this situation to make fast cash. Blood was (I suppose is…)
openly sold in many cities. Sooner it is realized that health care
in the country will only improve when blood banking becomes
safer, easily accessible to people and developed on the base of
voluntary non remunerated blood donors. With this idea a
blood bank was established in year 2000 in 'Pharmacy capital
of India' (Ahmedabad) with the support of Ahmedabad
Municipal Corporation. Prathama Blood Center, a not for profit
standalone blood bank was established to cater to the need of
safe blood in and aroud the city of Ahmedabad.
Principles of Blood Banking:
Three fundamentals driven the blood centre named Prathama
(in sanskrit 'first and foremost').
1. 100% voluntary non remunerated blood donations
2. 100% componentization to meet the needs of advanced
treatment in medicine
3. Blood issue without asking for replacement to patients.
Blood Collection:
November 20, 2012
A state of the art blood center was established to provide one of
the best environment that Indian blood donor can think of for
J ravishanker. Director Social Services.
The views expressed in this article are that of the author in his personal
capacity. 2012.

2. The Story of India’s Model Blood Bank 2012
donating blood. Qualified and experienced teams were
recruited to conduct blood donation process. Thoroughly
evaluated procedures engaged as Standard Operating
Procedures for the entire operation.
The blood centre for the first time in India, deployed societal
marketing teams to educate people to donate blood voluntarily.
It started engaging voluntary blood drives in various segments
of the society like housing societies, educational institutions,
factories, corporate houses, trade associations etc. On an
average it started conducting 500-700 blood donation camps in
a year to collect blood from voluntary donors. About 35000
blood donors annually donate blood in these camps.
In addition, the blood bank has also introduced for the first time
in India Blood Mobile Vans where it goes to the place of
voluntary blood donors and gives them comfortable and
hyginic environment to donate blood. It has introduced 4 such
vans in a span of 10 years where they cater to 15000 blood
donors.
Blood Processing:
November 20, 2012
The blood centre for the first time in India introduced 100%
blood separation process where whole blood is made in
components such as Plasma, Platelets and Red Cells where
Plasma is again made in to further derivatives to meet various
needs of patients like hemophilia, leukemia and so on.
J ravishanker. Director Social Services.
The views expressed in this article are that of the author in his personal
capacity. 2012.

3. The Story of India’s Model Blood Bank 2012
The blood centre also introduced aphaeresis procedure where
only needed blood component is taken from voluntary blood
donor. In addition to increase blood safety it has introduced
more than 150 standard operating procedures, irradiation and
PCR test on blood components. This has reinforced the
confidence in doctors to go for complex surgeries where safe
blood components needed.
Blood Supply & Outreach:
The blood center soon gained trust of local hospitals and
doctors. In a span of 10 years the blood bank provides blood
components to more than 3000 doctors in a given year and
stated meeting 60% of Ahmedabad blood requirement.
It catered to the needs of complex surgeries and emergencies November 20, 2012
and also established storage centers in remote areas where
blood components are not available otherwise. It is managing
10 plus blood storage centre in various hospitals. In 10 year the
blood centre distributed more than 1 million blood components
to various patients.
Prathama initiated free blood support to children with
Thalassemia way back in 2000. In absence of structured
governmental healthcare support to these children Prathama
took the lead and extended its helping hand to more than 600
children in Gujarat. In association with service organizations it
has ensured continuous and safe blood transfusion to these
children and also arranged for subsidized medicines. In
addition it took a mass campaign to eradicate Thalassemia
among youth.
J ravishanker. Director Social Services.
The views expressed in this article are that of the author in his personal
capacity. 2012.

4. The Story of India’s Model Blood Bank 2012
Finances:
The blood center established on the model of 'economics of
scale' to run its operations on sustainable basis. As it is a model
blood bank for India and other developing nations, costs were
of prime concern. Initial costs are met from bank loans and
loans and sundry loans. The land was taken on lease from local
Municipal Corporation. Later, these loans were re paid in
given time. Since inception the blood bank run on the principal
of 'self-sustenance' where the operational costs are met by the
revenue generated form service charges to patients.
Impact:
November 20, 2012
J ravishanker. Director Social Services.
The views expressed in this article are that of the author in his personal
capacity. 2012.

5. The Story of India’s Model Blood Bank 2012
As a result of Prathama's intervention in year 2000 and then
onwards, a steady growth in voluntary blood donor movement
has been observed in Gujarat. Now Gujarat stands at no.1
position in the country for voluntary blood donor ratio to
population compared to other states. Ahmedabad, where
Prathama located is no.1 city in India where the blood donor
population is 3.2% of the city population.
On any given day Prathama blood centre is able to keeps blood
stock of 6000 blood units to meet any sort of contingencies.
Prathama is having a registry of 300000 voluntary blood
donors, probably the highest ever in any city of India.
Prathama recognized for its contribution in reducing MMR in
Gujarat by timely and safe blood supply in year 2008, and
awarded by Gujarat State Council for Blood Transfusion for
"Excellence in Blood Banking" in year 2009. In the same year
it is awarded as No.1 blood bank in Gujarat.
November 20, 2012
J ravishanker. Director Social Services.
The views expressed in this article are that of the author in his personal
capacity. 2012.