Bulk quantity blood can be sent over long distances now

For any health care delivery system to work, it is important that its blood transfusion service (BTS) is in place. Keeping this in mind, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made an amendment to its Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, under which blood and its components can be transferred to other blood banks over long distances now.

Until 2015, the rules only stated the issuance of blood on written prescription by a medical practitioner, which caused problems of stock between the banks, thus the policy decision on transferring it to other blood banks across states was taken in 2015. The amendments to the drug rules, however, took place only in 2017.

"It was important to amend the rules. The Act was made in 1945 and there were not many provisions to transfer blood, without getting spoilt when sent to far off places. Times have changed and things are in order now," said Dr Shobhini Rajan, Director, National Blood Transfusion Council.

"This is, however, a facilitatory amendment where provision has been provided to state governments. It will run smoothly and help with patient care more if blood banks across the states take initiative to participate actively," said Rajan.

After the amendments, doctors said that the problem has been resolved to an extent. Earlier, there were instances where some banks would have excess blood of a particular group and the other would be running short of the same group. With the new amendments, private hospitals will also be able to run blood donation camps now.

The rules state: "The whole human blood and blood components may be transferred, under prescribed storage conditions, to another blood bank which has facilities to store and monitor blood distribution."

India collects over 11 million units blood every year, of which six lakh units are collected from Delhi, where the demand is close to eight lakh units.

DELHI’S BLOOD NEED

• The amendments to the drug rules were made in 2017. 
   
• After the amendment the blood and its components can be transferred to other blood banks over long distances.
   
• India collects over 11 million units blood every year, of which six lakh units are collected from Delhi, where the demand is close to eight lakh.