The State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has directed all blood banks to disassociate themselves from mega blood donation camps. Norms laid down by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) are often not followed at such camps. The council might recommend suspension of erring blood banks’ licences to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There are 291 private and government blood banks in the city. Last year, 1,441,000 units of blood were collected in the state from 19,792 camps organised by NGOs, political parties, corporations and educational institutions.
The SBTC’s directive is a response to a circular issued by NACO, which directed all state councils to discourage mega donation camps. NACO is of the view that small camps should be held at regular intervals so that prescribed blood collection norms are followed. At large camps, doctors do not get sufficient time to screen donors.
Every donor has to fill up a form called a donor history sheet which contains more than 20 questions.
The doctor goes through the sheet, and has to check the height, weight, haemoglobin level and blood pressure of the donor.
If done properly, the process takes at least 15 to 20 minutes per donor.
At most mega camps, norms are flouted because of time constraints and the organisers’ eagerness to enter record books. In the process, the quality of blood collected is compromised.
An official said history sheets are often filled by organisers on behalf of the donors to save time.
But this is a dangerous practice. “If a donor has had jaundice and if his history sheet does not reflect this fact, his blood can create problems,” he said.
“As per NACO norms, only 500 donors should be in a camp, allowing blood bank officers, doctors and other staff time to make note of the information. This is essentially a safety precaution,” said Sanjay Jadhav, joint director, SBTC. “Another aspect is that if, for example, we get 10,000 units or more from a camp, they could go to waste. Such huge volumes aren’t needed unless there is a major disaster. Hence, smaller quantities are preferred.”
“If any blood bank is found not adhering to NACO norms, we have every right to take action against the bank. We have the power to even cancel licences after due inquiry,” said FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagad.
However, it is not that all mega camps flout norms.
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