Dr. Sudhir Parikh, recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, recently visited the Life Blood Center (LBC), the first stand-alone blood center from India to receive the prestigious ISBT Award for Developing Countries. The LBC is a Project ‘Life’ endeavor based in Rajkot, Gujarat.
Organizers and leaders of the initiative called it a ‘memorable’ visit which “added great value” to the efforts of the charitable work of Project “Life”.
The visit, which took place July 13, 2025, was among the many philanthropic commitments and humanitarian healthcare efforts for the underprivileged in India, in which Dr. Parikh is involved.
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During the visit, Dr. Parikh was accompanied by Rushikesh Pandya, COO of Project ‘Life’, who provided a comprehensive overview of LBC’s operational processes and quality protocols. He also familiarized Dr. Parikh with the recent milestones, innovations, and ongoing community outreach initiatives under Project ‘Life’.
Dr. Sanjiv Nandani and key leadership of LBC welcomed Dr. Parikh warmly and took him on an extensive tour of the Centre.
Among the noteworthy points about LBC that he was told about, were:
LBC, established in 1981, is the first licensed blood bank of Saurashtra and a pioneer in blood transfusion services in the region. It serves a large population in Rajkot and neighboring districts across Saurashtra and Kutch — nearly one-third of Gujarat’s population.
LBC’s blood collection and distribution efforts are entirely reliant on voluntary blood donations. It has to date, provided more than 750,000 units of blood/components to poor patients and Thalassaemia Major children.
The LBC uses state-of-the-art technology and scientific practices for safe and efficient blood services, leaders of Project ‘Life’ noted.
During Dr. Parikh’s visit and discussions with the local leaders, special emphasis was placed on the strong collaboration with Life Global USA, of which Dr. Parikh is the head. This partnership has played a crucial role in various ways, in advancing the goals of LBC, say the leaders on the ground there.
These benefits of the collaboration include supporting free transfusions for economically disadvantaged patients; and enhancing the health outcomes and quality of life for Thalassaemia Major children.
Interaction with Beneficiaries:
Dr. Parikh spent a significant proportion of his visit to interact with children battling Thalassaemia. “His compassionate interaction brought comfort and encouragement to both patients and their families,” organizers said.
He shared his insights during a discussion on the Centre’s future. He applauded LBC’s world-class infrastructure and encouraged its positioning as a “second to none, ultramodern blood centre” in India.
Dr. Parikh also held a meeting with Trustees of LBC, focusing on the future. The meeting including Founder & Executive Trustee of Project ‘Life’ Chandrakant Koticha, and Joint Executive Trustee & CEO, Project ‘Life’ Meetal Koticha Shah, as well as COO of Project ‘Life’ Rushikesh Pandya,
The discussions centered around short, medium and long-term strategic goals for LBC. They also discussed strengthening global collaboration between Project ‘Life’ and Life Global USA to amplify reach and impact.
Dr. Parikh praised the “tireless efforts” of the entire Project ‘Life’ team and expressed his ongoing support for their noble mission of serving humanity through healthcare excellence.