Himachal orders probe into blood wastage
By IANSTuesday, October 26, 2010
SHIMLA - The Himachal Pradesh government Tuesday ordered a probe into the dumping of 75 units of blood by a government-run medical college in the past couple of months, a minister said.
The blood was dumped by the authorities of the Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Tanda in Kangra district after its expiry date - 35 days from the date of collection.
“A probe has been constituted into the dumping of 75 blood units. A four-member committee led by Principal Secretary (Health) P.C. Dhiman will look into the poor management, if any, in blood bank,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Rajeev Bindal told reporters.
He said the committee would also inspect other blood banks in the state and submit a report within three weeks.
The dumping of blood has left voluntary blood donation organizations, including Shimla-based Umang Foundation, shocked. The NGOs Monday sought a probe into the matter.
In a letter to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Umang Foundation’s chairman Ajai Srivastava said it was sad that on the one hand patients had to run from pillar to post to get blood in emergency, on the other, so much blood was going down the drain.
The foundation donated 700 blood units in 2009 and 675 units so far this year. It promotes blood donation for the cause of thalassemic children.
