Only registered blood banks can continue operating 8212; State

In a recent meeting held at Mantralaya to prepare plans for the National Blood Donation Day which falls on October 1, Medical Education secretary T C Benjamin has warned erring blood bank operators of stringent action on failing to get registered with the Council.

There are a total of 225 blood banks operational statewide, out of which 144 are private. A total of 210 blood banks only have registered themselves with the Council and the rest of them are operating without abiding the prevailing rules. The Government has amended the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, to empower the Council to initiate punitive action against erring blood banks.

Hospitals in Maharashtra require a total of 9 lakh blood bags every year. However, only 5 lakh blood bags are available at the blood banks and a shortfall of 4 lakh is created annually. This results in growth of professional blood donors, who charge exorbitant prices for the blood they donate to needy patients. The professional donors not only flout the three month limit between two blood donations by a person, but also ignore safety precautions.

Benjamin has appealed to youths to come forward and donate blood voluntarily at registered blood banks, so that the deficit is overcome and safe transfusion of blood takes place in the State.