Union Health Minister is of opinion that each district in the country should have one blood bank so that the level of health care is improved. There are still 48 districts in the country that do not have a blood bank. So far the policy of the Central Government has been to allow one blood bank in a district. But this could be reconsidered. Giving details of blood donations in the course of his speech in the Parliament, the Union Health Minister said that on country-wise level, requirement of blood was about 12 million units while the total collection was 10 million.
The situation of blood donation in our State or private hospitals is somewhat different and perhaps not very satisfactory. Generally speaking, a patient requiring blood transfusion is asked to provide a donor. Though most of the patients get support from family members or friends who donate blood in place of blood transfused to the patient, there are many poor patients who are asked to pay for a pint of blood and they are not in a position to pay. Some mechanism needs to be created so that poor patients are not denied the life saving blood.
We would appreciate if the Health Department ensures that blood banks will be opened in all the districts of the State particularly those close to the border or those with difficult accessibility. Many untimely deaths occur in our remote villages owing to non-availability of blood for transfusion. It should also be possible for the Health Department to provide mobile blood bank and blood transfusion system so that in emergency cases blood can be supplied to needy patients even if they cannot be moved to main hospitals.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel