Govt to set up Authority to regulate blood transfusion, enact law

New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) The Government is working on a proposal to establish a National Blood Transfusion Authority to ensure safety and quality, besides access to safe blood, and enact a legislation to regulate unscrupulous people exploiting patients on the basis of their need.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said in a statement to mark the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day here that recently his Ministry has approved establishment of four metro-blood banks in Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi, having a capacity of one lakh units of blood per year at a cost of Rs 450 crore. The State of art blood banks will enhance access to high quality blood throughout the day and throughout the year.

Likewise, a fractionation unit will be set up at a cost of Rs 250 crore to reduce dependence on imported plasma derivations and promote the rational use of blood.

He said that the draft law is on the anvil to regulate unscrupulous people from exploiting patients. These important initiatives will go a long way in helping us to achieve global standards in the area of blood collection, process, distribution and use.

Pointing out that millions of lives are lost due to non- access to safe blood at the right time, Dr Ramadoss said that the country needed an estimated 10 million units of blood in a year.

Collecting blood is a truly huge challenge, he said and appealed to the people to help recruit blood donors and collect the required quantity of blood.

He said the government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure access to safe blood and blood products. Over 1093 blood banks are supported with financial assistance. Eight-five blood component separation units promote the rational use of blood. However, all the efforts could be successful only with the total support of the people, especially the youth across the country.

''I appeal to all youths to come forward and commit themselves to becoming a donor of blood." UNI AJ SBC MIR KP1812