JOIN USMinister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said that more blood banks would be set up in all districts of the State. These would be set up in addition to the existing 184 blood banks.
He spoke after inaugurating an event organised on occasion of National Blood Donors Day at Maharani Women's Arts, Commerce and Management College in the City on Thursday.
“We already have blood banks in almost all the districts in the State. We will ensure that the existing ones are intact and functional and set up more to meet the growing needs,” he added.
The minister also assured the students of Maharani College that a health camp would be organised in the college and necessary training and treatment would be given to students suffering from anaemia.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Khader said that there was a need to have ombudsmen in the field of health. “Private hospitals were given a deadline of three months to put up the rate charts. They still have another one-and-a-half-month time to do the necessary. If they fail to do so, stern action would be taken,” he added.
The minister urged hospitals to keep stock of medicines, in the wake of a Statewide strike called by Chemists Association on October 14, in case of an emergency. Raghuram Bhandari, Drugs Controller, Drugs Control Department said, “Pharmacies in government hospitals and nursing homes will remain open. It is advised that those on regular medication buy the stock in advance to be on the safer side.”
Close to 200 students participated in a voluntary blood donation camp that was organised at the college premises by the Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society in association with the government hospitals. Khader was also among those who voluntarily donated blood.