Question : Blood Banks

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

(a) the number of National Blood Banks across the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether 81 districts spread across 17 States do not have a single blood bank, if so, the reasons therefor and the corrective measures taken by the Government to address the situation;

(c) whether the Government is planning to open National Bone Bank on the line of National Blood Bank across the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be opened and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the concrete steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a) to (e) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 197* FOR 28TH JULY, 2017
(a) The number of licensed blood banks across the country is 2903; State/UT-wise detail is at Annexure.

(b) There are 74 districts across the country which do not have blood bank at district level. These districts are spread across 14 States and one Union Territory.

It is Government of India’s policy that all States set up at least one blood bank per district. Public Health is a State subject and it is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments to ensure equitable access to safe blood. The districts are administrative units which are being carved out because of divisional re-organization and, therefore, there is incongruity between the numbers of blood banks and districts. The requirement of blood in these States and UTs is managed through blood storage centres and adjoining district blood banks. Regulation has been amended to permit transfer of blood and components between blood banks. Mobile blood collection vans and blood transportation vans have been provided to States to facilitate blood transfer.

Under National Health Mission, support has been provided to 12 States for set up of 56 district blood banks through construction, manpower and equipment grant.
(c) to (e) Bone, being a tissue, comes under the purview of Transplant of Human Organs Act and hence Bone Bank cannot be set up on the lines of blood banks across the country.

Infrastructure and equipments for Bone Bank are in place at National Organ Tissue and Transplant Organization, New Delhi, and it is likely to be opened after completion of registration.