Till recently about 6-8 per cent of HIV infections occurred through transfusion of blood and blood products in the country. Tominimise the risk of transmission of HIV through blood, Government has taken a series of measures:

1. Testing of all blood units used in the blood banks for HIV, Hepatitis B, Malaria and Syphilis has been made mandatory. ii. Under the Supreme Court's directive, a proper licensing system has been introduced for licensing of all blood banks and stopping operation of all unlicensed ones.
2. Government has undertaken large scale mobilisation efforts to increase voluntary blood donation through involvement of Governmental and non-Governmental agencies. Simultaneously the system of collect of blood through professional blood donors will be phased out by December 1997 under the Supreme Court order.
3. Government would ensure establishment of adequate blood banking services at the State/District levels including provision of trained manpower
4. To ensure rational use of blood, more and more blood component separation facilities would be estabisheed in the country for availability of blood products instead of whole blood.
5. Government has set up National and State Blood Transfusion Councils to oversee blood transfusion services as independent autonomous bodies. The facility of tax exemption for contributions to these Councils has also been given. These Councils will play a very important role in augmenting blood transfusion services in the country and to ensure safe blood to the people. To ensure generation of adequate medical and paramedical personnel specialised in blood banks, States are required to open separate Departments of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine in the medical colleges.