The government of Andhra Pradesh is proposing to set up six regional blood banks, besides evolving a new policy on blood donation in the state.Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, AP Health Minister, said the government anticipates that with the setting up of six more blood banks, there would be an increase in blood donation, especially from voluntary donors.

These blood banks would be in addition to the proposed Red Cross blood banks at all the 23 district headquarters in the state. There are 166 blood banks in the state, including 44 state government, five Central Government and nine Red Cross blood banks. Several blood banks are attached to private hospitals and nursing homes.

The government wants to collect pure blood from voluntary donors all over the state in view of the threat of HIV/AIDS from transfusion of contaminated blood. Stopping supply of contaminated blood and discouraging professional donors were the government's priority.

Dr Rao was addressing a two-day workshop on " Role of blood banks and NGOs in blood safety," organised by the State Blood Transfusion Council and the Department of Drug Control Administration.

Dr Rao said there was need for a clear-cut policy and a plan of action for phasing out the system of replacement donors and ensure availability of safe blood in adequate quantities in accordance with the National Blood Transfusion policy.

There was acute shortage of blood in the state. Only about two lakh bottles of blood were collected every year as against the annual demand of seven lakh bottles. Though voluntary blood donation had gone up from 39 per cent in 2000 to 43 per cent in 2002, it was not enough. He called upon the officials and NGOs to strive for more voluntary blood donation while eliminating commercial and professional donors.

Governor Surjit Singh Barnala called for a Blood Donors' Movement for promotion of voluntary blood donation on a large scale. He asked the blood banks to launch an extensive awareness campaign, including donor motivation. The Governor appreciated the services rendered by Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank and exhorted the mega film star to come forward to promote voluntary blood donation.

The government had a responsibility to ensure that NGOs like Indian Red Cross Society, NSS, NCC and other voluntary organisations involved themselves in blood bank services and followed statutory guidelines without any deviation. Barnala asked the participating members at the workshop to come out with clear recommendations and plan of action for maintaining continuity of donors and to ensure availability of adequate supplies of safe blood.

Chiranjeevi felt the need to involve religious leaders, teachers and social workers to influence the masses on the concept of blood donation. He said voluntary blood donation was only 43 per cent in the state compared to 87 per cent in West Bengal.

According to AP State AIDS Control Project Director K Damayanti, certain blood banks were functioning without proper infrastructure or licence, and were not following procedures. Further, illegal blood collection were taking place in nursing homes and there was no self-imposed code of conduct adopted at some blood banks.

DCA Additional Director-General P Ananthasayanam Reddy said five blood banks were in the process of being prosecuted for functioning without valid licence. They are the Cauvery Blood Bank in Warangal, Sri Sai Blood Bank in Karimnagar, Medicare Blood Bank in Hyderabad, AB Blood Bank in Secunderabad and Hyderabad.