Blood bags found near hospital: Inquiry sought

The Ludhiana Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association has sought an inquiry into the April 27 incident wherein 170 blood pouches were found in a dustbin near Dr BL Kapoor Hospital.

The hospital administration is already conducting an inquiry into the incident which has raised doubts over the appropriate and timely use of donated blood. The donated blood stored in the blood bags is fit for transfusion within 40 days under the recommended conditions. “We have never even stored so many blood bags in the hospital so there is no question of throwing them like that,” said Dr Waheguru Pal Singh,director of the hospital.

Dr Waheguru alleged it was a mischief by some employee of the hospital who was sacked. “I suspect somebody has done it deliberately to malign our reputation. It is true that blood can be stored for a limited period after which it should be discarded. But whenever we do discard a couple of blood bags after their expiry date,we give them to the agency which picks up the medical waste,” he added. B M Fredrick,a representative of the association,urged the health authorities to conduct an inquiry so that blood donated by people does not go waste.