Poland honours blood donors with ministerial medals

On 15 June 2026, a ceremony in Rzeszów awarded more than 160 blood donors the Minister of Health’s medal ‘Honorowy Dawca Krwi – Zasłużony dla Zdrowia Narodu’. Recipients included soldiers of the 3rd Podkarpacka Territorial Defence Brigade, who highlighted the importance of regular donation, saying, “We can never know when we might need blood ourselves.”

The Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Therapy in Podkarpackie reported that over 37 000 people hold the honourable donor title. Each day, 350–400 units of blood are supplied to local hospitals, with current shortages in the O Rh‑ and O Rh+ groups.

The awards recognize donors who have given at least 20 litres of blood or equivalent components, underscoring their role in sustaining the national health system.