The Blood Banks General Corporation was established last year, replacing the former General Institution for Blood and Medical Industries, which had been affiliated with the Ministry of Defense. In a major structural reform, the new body has been placed under the authority of the Ministry of Health, integrating blood transfusion services into Syria’s national public health framework. The institution is now responsible for supervising all blood transfusion operations across the country.
Overcoming Legacy Challenges
Dr. Mustafa Jazi, Director General of the General Authority for Blood Banks, stated the institution inherited deteriorating infrastructure, including numerous non-operational laboratory and blood separation devices, as well as a shortage of qualified personnel.
In response, the authority launched a geographically balanced health mapping plan in 2025, establishing a network of approximately 36 blood banks across central and subsidiary branches. Renovation efforts began with rehabilitating facilities and replacing outdated equipment, some of which had not been upgraded in nearly a decade.
Reform efforts also include infrastructure rehabilitation projects, staff training programs and the introduction of an electronic traceability system considered essential for modern blood bank management.
On the human resources level, the institution integrated health personnel from northwestern Syria and is working to unify services and staffing structures in the northeastern governorates of Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor. The goal is to ensure equitable service distribution and maintain national blood safety standards.
Strategic Goals and Ongoing Challenges
A key operational risk in transfusion services is the long-distance transportation of blood units. To mitigate this, the institution is redistributing blood banks to strategic locations, reducing transport times and improving storage conditions to guarantee safe and timely delivery to hospitals. These measures align with the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to create a dignified and reliable infrastructure that encourages voluntary blood donation by offering a safe and welcoming environment.
Despite structural improvements, the institution faces ongoing pressure as it provides an indispensable, non-substitutable service. Any operational disruption directly affects patient care. Officials state that throughout 2025, the authority maintained uninterrupted services while implementing gradual improvements within available resources, marking a foundational step toward a more sustainable and nationally integrated blood services system.
