BGS Global Hospital Bangalore has invested Rs one crore to set up a blood transfusion department and install advanced equipment. On the occasion of the World Blood Donors Day observed on June 14 annually, BGS will officially introduce the Dept of Transfusion Medicine and launch a Rare Blood Group Registry. The data will be useful to locate the rare blood group donors during an emergency.
The hospital will also unveil the CTC (comprehensive trauma care)-Disha, a public service initiative which is a first-of-its-kind in the country to provide information on blood availability in accredited blood banks in Bangalore.
"In spite of all advancements in medical science and pharmaceuticals, the only source of blood is through donation. There is no technology to manufacture blood. Blood transfusion is critical for the increasing number of complex surgeries and accident trauma cases. Over 40 per cent of deaths worldwide are due to blood loss. This puts tremendous pressure on the need for availability of good blood transfusion services," stated Dr N K Venkataramana, vice-chairman, BGS Global Hospital.
BGS will play an active role to create awareness across the interior parts of Karnataka and also organize regular blood donation camps. CTC Disha will offer round-the-clock information in the city by dialling 1062. The cell phone for registering the rare blood group is 9916144475.
In order to provide the safe and quality blood and blood products, BGS has installed a range of state-of-the-art equipment. These include TACE II (only one in Bangalore), Amicus (Fenwal) cell separator, which is one of the four installations in Bangalore. "We are working towards implementation of nucleic acid testing (NAT) within few months and use leukodepleted components for all cases. We have invested in advanced high end screening and storage facilities, maintaining highest safety standards, informed Dr Prashant Pandey, consultant-transfusion medicine, BGS Global Hospital.
In order to fulfill the objective of safe blood transfusion observation of the World Blood Donors day is important. This is because safe blood can only be provided by voluntary, repeated and non-remunerated blood donors. Unfortunately awareness about blood donation is low in India because of low literacy. To motivate and recruit donors is easy but retaining them is a challenge, stated Dr Pandey.
India annually requires around 4 crore units of blood. But only less than 50 per cent of the demand is met. This is because only less than 1 per cent Indians donates blood as against 5 per cent in the western countries.
Adding to the blood donor shortage, there is also a serious paucity of Blood Transfusion experts. There are only 3 to 4 candidates who complete their MD transfusion medicine in India. Medical Colleges are now beginning to offer the specialty which could offset the shortage.
A visible trend in the blood banking front is the improvement in safety and quality of blood transfusion standards. The National Aids Control Organization (NACO) has started supporting most of the government blood banks with equipment and training programmes.
Challenges in blood transfusion are availability of best quality safe blood products in appropriate doses and optimal utilization of voluntary donors besides ensure repeat donors, added Dr Pandey.