NEWS FEATURE-Strengthening Mauritius’ Blood Security and Health Resilience

Behind every blood transfusion lies a complex system that must function seamlessly every day—whether the country is facing a health emergency, a cyclone, a pandemic, or simply the constant demand for blood in hospitals. In Mauritius, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) plays a central role in ensuring that safe blood and blood components are available whenever patients need them.

Operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the NBTS is the sole national authority responsible for the collection, screening, preparation, and distribution of blood and its components. Its work extends far beyond collecting donations; it encompasses an integrated system designed to safeguard the national blood supply and strengthen the resilience of the health system.

A National System built on Voluntary Donation

At the heart of Mauritius’ blood transfusion system is the principle of voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation. This approach was reinforced through the National Blood Policy adopted in 2018 with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The policy places safe blood donation at the centre of transfusion security and incorporates WHO standards with regards to the screening of transfusion-transmissible infections, confidentiality, and equitable access to blood services.

The NBTS operates from its headquarters at Victoria Hospital, Candos, supported by regional blood banks at Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis, SSRN Hospital in the north, SAJ Hospital in the east, and Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in the south.

The service also brings blood donation closer to communities through mobile collection campaigns organised in schools, workplaces, and community settings. Such outreach is particularly important in ensuring that geographical location does not become a barrier to participation in voluntary blood donation.

From One Donation to Multiple Lifesaving Components

The journey of donated blood does not end when a donor leaves the collection site. Each donation undergoes rigorous screening and processing before reaching a patient. All blood donations are tested for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. Donor assessment and haemoglobin testing are carried out with full respect for confidentiality and privacy.

A key feature of the system is the separation of blood collected into its different components—red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. This procedure enables a single donation to meet multiple clinical requirements and maximises the usefulness of every unit collected. Component separation maximises the value of available donations and reduces wastage.

This efficient use of donated blood is particularly significant for a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) such as Mauritius, where resources and access to external supplies can be constrained.

Meeting Daily Demand

The scale of NBTS operations can be measured by the continuous demand placed on the national blood supply. The service caters for approximately 140 to 150 blood units every day across public and private hospitals.

Maintaining such a supply requires a reliable pool of regular donors, effective collection campaigns, rigorous screening and processing systems, and a dependable distribution network.

For Mauritius, sustaining this system is also a matter of national resilience. Unlike larger countries, an island state cannot depend on neighbouring nations for an immediate supply of blood during a major emergency.

Building Resilience as a Small Island Developing State

Mauritius faces several challenges characteristic of SIDS. An ageing population gradually reduces the size of the potential donor pool, while geographical isolation limits the possibility of rapidly sourcing blood supplies from abroad during emergencies.

Progress is evident in strengthening the domestic donor base. Regular donors accounted for 34.8% in 2025, while voluntary donations reached 87.7% during the same year, bringing the country closer to self-sufficiency.

At the same time, the NBTS must contend with dependence on imported medical supplies and the risk of disruptions caused by cyclones, pandemics, and other emergencies. Integrating blood safety into national disaster preparedness plans further ensures that transfusion services remain operational when normal systems are disrupted.

Blood Security and the Sustainable Development Goals

The work of the NBTS contributes directly to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably:

· SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: A safe and adequate blood supply is fundamental to medical care, supporting patients in maternal emergencies, trauma, and chronic conditions.

· SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Inclusive voluntary blood donation campaigns, community outreach, and efforts to broaden participation strengthen equity.

· SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Cooperation with WHO, NGOs, and private sector partners enhances resilience and sustainability.

Integrating SDG indicators into the NBTS’s annual reporting framework would provide a means of tracking progress in areas such as health equity, donor inclusiveness, and international cooperation.

A Potential Regional Model for SIDS

Mauritius’ experience represents an interesting example for other island states facing similar challenges to emulate.

A comparison with Seychelles, Fiji, and Barbados underscores different approaches to blood collection and the pressures faced by SIDS, ranging from small donor pools to cyclone-related disruptions and dependence on imported supplies.

Against this backdrop, Mauritius’ structured national blood transfusion service, regional blood banks, mobile collection campaigns, and high proportion of voluntary donations provide a strong foundation for resilience.

However, there is potential for Mauritius to move beyond securing its own national blood supply and contribute technical expertise to fellow SIDS through meaningful regional cooperation.

A SIDS blood safety network, with Mauritius playing a technical leadership role, could facilitate the sharing of expertise, preparedness strategies, and best practices in blood collection, processing, and emergency response.

Looking Ahead

For an island nation, blood security is more than a medical requirement—it is an essential element of national resilience. Every unit collected, screened, and carefully processed contributes to the country’s ability to respond to emergencies and provide essential care.

With its nationwide structure strongly anchored on voluntary donation, adherence to WHO standards, and growing focus on resilience, NBTS stands both as a cornerstone of Mauritius’ health system and a model of how an island state can develop a secure and sustainable blood supply through national commitment, community participation, and regional cooperation

28 August 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

Website: https://gis.govmu.org

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Topics: Health

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