Blood banks can't seek replacements any more

Voluntary donation camps planned across district on regular basis

Providing replacements at blood banks has almost become a norm these days. The relatives of patients, particularly those from outstation have a harrowing time in searching for replacements.

Though various organisations maintain a record of blood donors, absence of an umbrella organisation makes the data inaccessible at crucial times. However, all that may be passe now.

Blood donation

The Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society (KSAPS) has planned to augment the stocks at blood banks through regular and massive voluntary blood donation camps across the district.

The camps will be held at government first grade colleges. A circular has been issued in this regard a fortnight ago.

“The camps will be held in proportion to the requirement at the blood banks, ” Dr Suresh V Shellikeri, the deputy director of blood safety programme told Deccan Herald.

The principal objective of the programme is to ensure regular and continuous availability of all groups of blood at the blood bank, he added.

Free service

Patients possessing BPL (below poverty line) cards and haemophilia and thalassemia patients will be given blood free of cost.

Other categories will have to pay Rs 350 per unit in government hospitals and Rs 750 per unit in private hospitals. Any instance of overcharging may be brought to the notice of the deputy commissioner, Dr Suresh said.

Regularly available

Deputy commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena, who is also the chairperson of the District Voluntary Blood Donation Taskforce has issued direction to ensure regular availability of blood at blood banks.

District Aids Prevention Officer Dr Jagadish prepared a plan for organising voluntary blood donation camps at first grade colleges, up to March next year. The camps will be held across on the district on a regular basis.