There is an annual shortage of over 3 million units of Blood in India. Every 2 seconds someone in India needs blood, while less than 1% of the population donates blood.

The biggest barrier to Blood Donation was the mind-set towards the word ‘Donation’. Our objective was to address India’s blood deficit, by bringing about a change in that mind-set and behaviour towards ‘Blood Donation’.

Our solution replaced the altruistic concept of ‘Donation’ with the more self-driven motive of ‘Savings’; thereby the donor becomes the receiver.

The Indian Red Cross Society launched the World’s First Savings Account for Blood, enabling people to save their own blood, just they’d save money in a bank. Using the Blood Banking app, one could save, withdraw, or transfer blood. The overall design of the app simulates phone banking apps, in form and function. Even the terminologies used are similar to phone banking apps.

From the day of its launch on 3rd April 2016, every blood donation drive was renamed a Blood Banking Drive.Several Blood Banking drives were conducted in cultural centres, educational institutions, and business districts. Mobile Blood Banks took the initiative deep into rural areas. Doctors, Bloggers, Influencers, Volunteers and Activists helped spread the word on social media. Blood Banking made Breaking News on all major News Channels across India, earning Free PR worth millions.#BloodBanking made it to the front page of twitter and was trending for months with over 60 million impressions.

BloodBanking received an overwhelming response during the 261 Blood Banking drives. As of today, the Indian Red Cross Society has registered, 152,100+ Blood Banking Accounts, crossed 207,000+ Downloads of the App, and recorded 132,003 UNITS of blood collected.

On 4th August 2016, more than 3,034 people signed up to save blood, in less than 8 hours, creating a new Guinness World Record. The Union ministry of health along with several state governments have made it a priority to emulate Blood Banking in blood banks across the country. The Red Cross Chapters in Mexico & Lebanon have also taken a keen interest in implementing Blood Banking for their countries.

Blood Banking is successfully closing in on the target of 1 million accounts. And when 1 million account holders make 3 blood deposits, over the course of 1 year, the nation’s blood deficit of 3 million units will be reduced to zero.

More importantly, it changed human behaviour by urging people to form a lifesaving habit.