Karnataka health department asks taluk hospitals to establish fresh frozen plasma in blood storage units

Bengaluru: In order to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, the Karnataka government on Thursday ordered all the 147 taluk hospitals to establish cryoprecipitate or Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) in the blood storage units.

The administrative approval for the order was released by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, as 518 new mothers die every year, with 20 per cent of deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage, the order mentioned.

The administrative approval came following an order in November last year where the government had asked the First Referral Units of 50 hospitals to establish blood storage units, including the districts of North Karnataka.

While the National Health Mission has laid out several initiatives to prevent postpartum deaths, adequate blood storage units and availability of blood plays a vital role in preventing postpartum deaths, according to the order.

The order also notes that India has an increasing prevalence of anemia, further complicating postpartum bleeding, along with a higher number of road accidents, making it important for all the taluk hospitals to have cryoprecipitates.

According to the order, the cost of establishing the fresh frozen plasma will be taken from the remaining funds at the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL).

Particulars including 147 deep freezers (40 degree Celsius) and Plasma Thawing Baths (including cryobath) would cost a total of Rs 9.84 crores according to the order.

FFP is a blood component that contains pro-coagulant factors, which help control bleeding. Cryoprecipitate is a blood component used to treat bleeding in patients who have low levels of clotting proteins, or who have conditions that prevent their blood from clotting properly.