Taking a major step to strengthen emergency healthcare, the Andhra Pradesh government is set to introduce a special dedicated mobile application for rapid blood and blood component delivery, enabling life-saving supplies to reach hospitals within minutes of a request.

The initiative, being rolled out by the State Health Department, is aimed at addressing delays in accessing blood during medical emergencies, surgeries and critical care situations. Through the app, hospitals will be able to place real-time requests for whole blood and specific blood components, which will then be sourced from the nearest available blood bank and delivered directly to the hospital, officials said.

Medical and Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav said the proposed system would significantly improve response time and ensure that no life is lost due to non-availability of blood. “One unit of blood can save three lives. Our focus is to make blood availability seamless, quick and dependable, especially during emergencies,” the Minister said.

The new app is being launched at a time when Andhra Pradesh has recorded encouraging progress in voluntary blood donation. In the previous financial year, 5.34 lakh units of blood were collected across the State, of which 88.60 percent came from voluntary donors. In the current financial year (2025-26), up to December, 7.03 lakh units have already been collected, with over 88.5 percent contributed voluntarily.

Despite this progress, the Minister stressed that the goal is to achieve 100 percent voluntary blood donation. He called upon youth to come forward in larger numbers, noting that demand for blood continues to outstrip supply due to rising medical needs.

According to Health Department data, blood collected during 2025-26 has been extensively used for critical cases. Of the total units utilised, 94,262 units supported maternal and neonatal care, 73,048 units were used for cancer patients, 54,581 units for road accident victims, 19,161 units for sickle cell patients, and 17,274 units for thalassemia patients. The remaining units were provided free of cost to other critically ill patients.

Officials said the new app will further enhance efficiency by enabling faster delivery of specific components, such as red blood cells, platelets and plasma, rather than whole blood, ensuring optimal utilisation.

Health officials said the upcoming app, combined with Andhra Pradesh’s strong voluntary donation base, is expected to become a model for emergency blood logistics in the country. By ensuring that blood and its components reach hospitals swiftly and transparently, the State aims to build a more resilient, responsive and life-saving healthcare system.