Jharkhand plans specialised agency for blood bank management
Ranchi- To improve the functioning and management of blood banks across Jharkhand, the State Department of Health, Medical Education, and Family Welfare is planning to seek the assistance of a specialised agency.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the condition and functioning of blood banks in several parts of the state.
Reports of shortages in blood units, mismanagement, and operational deficiencies surface from time to time, causing difficulties for patients and their families who rely on the timely availability of blood during medical emergencies.
Jharkhand requires 1.5 to 2 lakh units of blood annually. However, blood banks often face shortages, putting patients' lives at risk.
Speaking to TOI, Ajay Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department, stated that this agency would be responsible for organising blood donation camps across the state and depositing the collected blood into blood banks.
“Due to manpower crunch, govt blood banks in the state could not organise blood donation camps, which led to blood shortages. Since the system of replacement blood has been discontinued, the challenge of blood collection has increased. Blood collection is only possible through voluntary donation and camps. The agency will do this work for the department so that availability of blood can always be ensured at the banks,” Singh said.
Meanwhile, departmental sources stated that the agency selection process is currently in the tender evaluation stage.
“Following the tendering process initiated earlier in April, five bidders have qualified, and the evaluation of their bids is underway,” the source said.
In recent times, Jharkhand's blood bank system has been embroiled in controversy. Last October, five children suffering from thalassemia contracted HIV after receiving blood transfusions at the Chaibasa Sadar Hospital in the West Singhbhum district.
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