Question : Blood Banks

(a) whether there are adequate number of blood banks in the country;
(b) if so, the details of Government and Private blood banks functioning in the country, State/UT-wise and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to set up blood banks in each district and on priority basis in remote, flood prone, rural and border areas of the country;
(d) the present status in regard to the blood banks which are being set up in various cities of the country?
(e) whether any mechanism has been put in place to coordinate with the voluntary organizations, private and public sectors to encourage voluntary blood donations and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to check the illegal sale of blood?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d)

There are 3807 licensed blood banks (blood centres) in the country. The details of Government and Private licensed blood banks in the country, State/UT wise is given at Annexure–A.

The policy of the Government advocates for a hub and spoke approach towards transfusion services, wherein blood is collected and processed in the hubs, which are high volume blood banks and distributed through spokes, which are smaller blood banks and blood storage centers. The requirement of blood banks depends upon the health infrastructure of the area. However, blood storage centres can be established in remote areas to meet the emergency requirement of blood, which may be attached to blood banks.

Public Health is a State subject and it is the primary responsibility of the State/UT Government to ensure the establishment of blood banks as per their need. Support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system including strengthening existing blood banks /supporting new blood banks and blood storage units based on the proposals submitted by the States through National Health Mission.

Govt. of India through Blood Transfusion Services, also supports 1131 Blood banks in the Public and Charitable sector in respect of manpower, procurement of Blood Bags and testing kits, conducting Voluntary Blood Donation (VBD) camps and Information Education Communication (IEC) activities etc. In addition, Mobile vans for Blood collection and blood transportation vans are provided to the States/UTs.

(e) Steps have been taken to engage with different Government Departments, voluntary organizations like Indian Red Cross Society, blood donor associations, professional associations and other stakeholders for creating opportunities to donate and raise public awareness on the need for safe blood donation and transfusion in the country. The Government supports various activities like conducting blood donation camps, observance of events on Voluntary Blood Donation days and motivating youth groups in coordination with agencies like Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, National Service Scheme, Red Ribbon Clubs in various Universities and Colleges, etc. The Government has also made a provision of four special casual leaves per year that can be availed by Central Government employees for donating blood.

(f) It is for the concerned States/UTs Government to take steps to check the illegal sale of blood.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) jointly with the State Drugs Licensing Authority regulates Blood Banks for collection, storage and processing of whole Human Blood and/ or its Components as per provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 & Rules 1945. e-RaktKosh, an initiative of Government of India to monitor the blood banks, is an integrated Blood Bank Management Information System that interconnects all the blood banks into a single network.

Further, the matter regarding processing charges of blood and blood components has been taken up with the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) for bringing the same under Drugs Prices Control Order(DPCO).