Reconstitute blood transfusion council: NGO

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 1

Umang Foundation, an NGO, has alleged that the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) is defunct for the last five years. Umang Foundation chief Ajai Srivastava met Health Minister Rajiv Saizal and urged him to ensure that blood transfusion in the state was done as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Srivastava said in 1996, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre and all states to constitute blood transfusion councils to take the responsibility of blood transfusion work. “Himachal also established the State Blood Transfusion Council, but not a single meeting of the body has been convened in the last five years. It’s lying defunct and should be reconstituted immediately,” said Srivastava.

He apprised the minister that there was always a scarcity of blood in the state. He suggested that situation could improve if blood component separation machines were widely available and used properly. He said there was a severe shortage of staff at the IGMC and other blood banks. “Besides, haemoglobin testing facility for blood donors was not available at the IGMC and other blood banks. Information regarding blood group is also not given to the donors,” he alleged.

He accused the Health Department too of not organising any publicity campaign for blood donation. Srivastava demanded that a special facility for thalassemia patients should be created at the IGMC and Tanda Medical College.