Ulaanbaatar
Prime Minister Donates Blood, Calls on the Public to Give the Gift of Life
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, January 2, 2026 /MONTSAME/. At the invitation of the National Center for Blood Transfusion and Research, Prime Minister of Mongolia Zandanshatar Gombojav participated in activities marking the “National Blood Donation Day” on January 2, 2026.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister stated, “Blood donated by one donor gives life to three people. Donating blood is among the most humane and compassionate acts of kindness. I call upon my fellow Mongolians to donate blood and give others the gift of life.”
The National Center for Blood Transfusion and Research has been operating since 1963. It collects blood through three permanent centers and mobile services. From donated blood, the Center produces 36 types of blood and blood products, classified into red cell, plasma, and platelet components, and supplies them to more than 100 hospitals in Ulaanbaatar. It also provides professional and methodological guidance to 27 branch centers nationwide.
More than 180,000 registered blood donors are recorded nationwide. On average, 150–200 donors give blood at the Center each day. Over 46,000 of them donate regularly. Donors aged 25–44 account for 47.5 percent of the registered donor base, while men constitute 54 percent. By blood group, 40 percent are Group I, 23 percent Group II, 30 percent Group III, and 7 percent Group IV donors.
Storage periods vary depending on product type. Red cell products can be stored for 36–42 days, allowing the Center to maintain a 14-day reserve during stable periods. Plasma products can be stored for up to five years. Platelet products, however, cannot be stored for more than five days, making it impossible to maintain reserves; they are therefore supplied directly upon request.
The volume of collected blood increased by 75 percent, from 24,000 units in 2014 (one unit equals 250–400 grams) to 45,000 units in 2024. While 97 percent of collected blood meets quality standards at testing, this percentage decreases during the production process. Consumption of blood and blood products rose by 44 percent, from 47,000 units in 2014 to 85,000 units in 2024.
Mongolia is marking January 3 as “National Blood Donation Day” for the tenth consecutive year. Prime Minister Zandanshatar is himself a registered blood donor with the National Center for Blood Transfusion and Research.
