Question : Government and Private Blood Banks

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether 74 districts in the country are still without blood banks, if so, the details thereof indicating the names of such districts and the number of Government and private blood banks functioning in the country, State-wise;

(b) whether a number of people die due to lack of blood banks in such districts, if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Government thereto along with the remedial steps being taken in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for setting up blood banks on priority basis in remote, rural and border areas in the Country and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether coordination with voluntary organizations, private and public sector is there to encourage voluntary blood donations and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to check and stop illegal sale of blood or related illegal activities?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): 76 districts in the country do not have blood banks, as per State-wise details at Annexure 1.

The State-wise details of numbers of Government and private blood banks are at Annexure 2.

(b): No such instance has come to notice of the Government. Health being a State subject, the responsibility of setting up of Blood Banks lies with State Governments. The policy of Government of India is to have at least one blood bank per district. However given the fact that due to various administrative reasons, State Governments carve out new districts periodically, it is difficult to always maintain the ratio of one blood bank per district. However, in the case of districts not having blood banks, their needs are met by neighbouring districts.

(c): Under the National Health Mission, support is provided to State governments for setting up of blood banks and blood storage centres as per their needs in areas where no blood services exist.

(d): Voluntary blood donations are encouraged through coordination with Voluntary organizations, private and public sectors. Activities include observance of World Blood Donor Day (14th June) and National Voluntary Blood Donation Day (1st October) wherein blood donors and donor organizations are felicitated as a mark of appreciation and conduction of nation-wide blood drives and campaigns. An enabling provision of four special casual leaves each year provides encouragement to Central Government employees to enrol as regular blood donors.

(e): Blood is considered a drug under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and Rules 1945 thereof and only licensed blood banks are allowed to collect and issue blood and blood components for use.

National Blood Policy prohibits the sale or trading in blood, as it is considered to be a voluntarily donated commodity of human origin. National Blood Transfusion Council has prescribed processing charges for blood and blood components for non profit recovery to all State Blood Transfusion Councils.