We are celebrating the 90th anniversary of blood donation in Poland

The history of blood donation in Poland is closely linked to the activities of the Polish Red Cross, which played a key role in its development.

The beginnings of blood donation and transfusion medicine in Poland date back to the 1930s and are associated with the Polish Red Cross, as it established the first medical facility dealing with transfusion medicine in our country – in 1935, in Warsaw at Smolna Street 6 – the Institute of Blood Collection and Conservation at the PCK Main Hospital. The Institute played a significant role in research on blood conservation and the regeneration of the body after blood collection, and its first director was Henryk Gnoiński, who was associated with the Polish Red Cross, an outstanding scientist and physician whose work was of great importance for the development of blood donation in our country.

Henryk Gnoiński was also the author of numerous scientific publications on blood transfusion. In 1937, he published an article titled "On Blood Transfusion," in which he shared his experiences and observations in the field of transfusion medicine. His commitment and pioneering work contributed to the development of modern blood donation and transfusion medicine in Poland, as well as to the promotion of the idea of voluntary blood donation, which became the foundation of modern blood services in our country.

During World War II, blood donation gained even greater significance. The Polish Red Cross organized blood donation campaigns for injured soldiers and civilians, which had a huge impact on saving lives during wartime. Despite difficult conditions, the development of transfusion medicine in Poland progressed, and blood donors became invaluable support for hospitals and medical points.

After the war, blood donation in Poland began to develop dynamically. In 1948, the first State Blood Donation Center was established, which formed the foundation for the future system of voluntary blood donation. In the following years, the PCK conducted intensive educational and organizational activities, encouraging society to donate blood.

From the 50s and 60s of the 20th century, the idea of voluntary blood donation began to take shape. The Polish Red Cross became the main promoter of this noble attitude, organizing numerous social campaigns and blood donation drives in workplaces, schools, and universities.

Thanks to the efforts of the PCK and the involvement of thousands of donors, blood donation in Poland has become an integral part of the healthcare system. Today, 90 years after the birth of blood donation, Poland can boast a well-functioning system based on voluntary blood donation, and the Polish Red Cross continues to play an important role in promoting it. Today, blood donation is not only a part of the healthcare system but, first and foremost, a symbol of human solidarity. Hundreds of thousands of voluntary donors across Poland save the lives of patients in need of transfusions each year – from accident victims to those battling cancer, and patients requiring complex surgeries.

In 2025, nearly 800 Honorary Blood Donor Clubs of the PCK operate, bringing together about 18,000 members. Thanks to the involvement of blood donors from the HDK PCK clubs, in 2023 alone, 99,668.79 liters of blood were collected.

The celebrations of this important anniversary are an excellent opportunity to thank all donors for their noble attitude and to promote the idea of voluntary blood donation. Every drop of blood donated is a gift of life that brings hope and help to those in greatest need.

We encourage you to join in the celebrations of this unique anniversary and to continue supporting and promoting blood donation – let this beautiful gesture of kindness last for generations to come.