Each year, millions of lives across Asia are sustained by blood transfusions, yet many countries in the region continue to experience recurring shortages. According to the World Health Organisation, 40 per cent come from high-income countries, despite these countries accounting for 16 per cent of the world’s population. In Asia, where demand outpaces supply, this imbalance is starkly felt.

Why people hold back

As a regular blood donor, I’ve come to appreciate both the urgency of the need and the depth of public hesitation that surrounds blood donation. When I ask friends why they don’t donate, the answers are strikingly similar: “It must be painful” or “I’m worried I won’t qualify.”

The truth is, the procedure itself is far less intimidating than people assume. However, one obstacle remains—screening potential donors for low haemoglobin levels. The WHO estimates that anaemia affects an estimated 571 million women and 269 million young children worldwide, with the highest prevalence in South and Southeast Asia.

In fact, up to 15–20 per cent of potential donors are turned away in some Asian countries due to low haemoglobin counts. Pre-screening usually involves a finger-prick blood sample. While minor, it acts as a psychological barrier for many. For those living with Sensory Processing Sensitivity, which includes about 20 per cent of Singapore’s population—myself among them—that single fingertip prick can be particularly painful even hours after testing.

Also Read: Healthtech in South and Southeast Asia – Seeing beyond the “obvious”

Reimagining screening through technology

The gap is what motivated me to create an app with a non-invasive haemoglobin scanner. The idea was simple: if people could check their haemoglobin levels quickly and painlessly before visiting a donation centre, we could remove one of the main barriers to participation. And by scanning their lips.

According to a retrospective study of the Singapore Blood Transfusion Service, about 14.4 per cent of prospective blood donors were deferred either temporarily or permanently at the pre-donation screening stage. Among the top reasons for deferral were a low haemoglobin count, alongside factors such as recent medication use and recovery from a flu or fever. This means that one in seven Singaporeans presenting to donate blood are turned away.

The first wave of feedback was eye-opening, not just from prospective blood donors but also from individuals who regularly require blood testing for medical reasons, as well as inactive donors who shared that they might be more inclined to donate if pre-screening felt less invasive. And fast. Both groups shared that an easier, pain-free haemoglobin check could be a meaningful help in reducing anxiety, encouraging participation and lessening care costs.

Developing Genesis1 is not just about convenience. It is about using advanced technology – specifically, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – to normalise blood donation and reframe the experience as empowering rather than intimidating. What struck me most was that modern technology could transform the act of giving blood from something intimidating into something empowering.

Beyond donor centres

From a healthtech perspective, the potential extends far beyond donor centres. Anaemia often goes undiagnosed, particularly in communities with limited access to healthcare. A portable, easy-to-operate tool could empower clinics, schools and even self-help groups to screen populations at scale, turning what is currently a reactive diagnosis into a proactive measure.

For governments and Non-Governmental Organisations managing national blood banks and public health campaigns, this kind of solution could optimise donor pools, reduce deferral rates and ultimately help build more resilient healthcare systems.

Also Read: The most-funded healthtech startups in Southeast Asia: A decade in review

Small shifts, big impact

The strength of health innovation in Asia lies in its scale. With large and varied populations, even a slight increase in active donors results in a significant impact. Think about it.

A five per cent increase in active donors translates into thousands of lives saved annually. By reducing barriers to eligibility screening, the application takes a small but significant step towards closing the supply gap, particularly in regions like Thailand and Indonesia, where shortages can mean the difference between life and death.

From fear to solidarity

The broader vision is clear: technology should serve as an enabler, not a gatekeeper. By designing tools that are intuitive, affordable and scalable, we can influence public attitudes towards blood donation and tackle one of the region’s most urgent yet solvable healthcare challenges.

Innovations like Genesis1 can help reshape public health attitudes across Asia. If people start to view health checks as accessible and painless, blood donation will feel less like a test of endurance and more like an act of shared responsibility. That shift, from fear to solidarity, could help cultivate a culture where giving blood is not unusual, but expected.

Blood donation is fundamentally an act of solidarity. By combining that human kindness with thoughtful innovation, we can ensure that fear and inconvenience never stand in the way of saving lives.

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