The City of Prague is once again offering free annual public transport passes to long-term blood donors, reaffirming its support for those making quiet but vital contributions to public health.

In 2025, 367 individuals will receive this benefit, which is awarded to those who have donated blood at least 80 times. The city has allocated 1.3 million CZK to fund the program, which has become a yearly tradition.

Each person is granted a full-fare annual travel pass for the Prague Integrated Transport system (PID), typically priced at 3,650 CZK.

The pass is given to those who hold official honors from the Czech Red Cross (ČČK), such as various levels of the Golden Cross or the “Donate Blood – Gift of Life” plaque

This year, 244 donors who have given blood at least 80 times will receive the 3rd Class Gold Cross. Another 82 individuals qualify for the 2nd Class award after 120 donations, and 31 donors will be recognized with the 1st Class honor for 160 donations. In addition, 10 exceptional donors who have each donated 250 times will receive the benefit as holders of the ČČK honorary plaque.

According to the Czech Red Cross, around 220,000 people in the country currently donate blood, with about 30,000 new donors joining each year.

However, medical professionals say at least 300,000 regular donors are needed to maintain a stable national blood supply, along with 5,000 new donors annually to offset losses due to age or illness.

Compared to last year, the number of recipients dropped slightly. In 2024, 372 people were awarded the same benefit, at a total cost of 1,357,800 CZK.

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