Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, an excellence in health care and a part of Apollo Group, has organized a national seminar on recent trends in immunohaematology, “The Indian Perspective” in collaboration with IMMUCOR India Private Limited in Delhi.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr Surinder Singh, director National Institute of Biologicals – Government of India. Jaideep Gupta, managing director, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director – Apollo Group of Hospitals were present at the event. The prominent experts across the country participated in the event.

Dr R N Makroo, director and Sr. Consultant, Dept of Transfusion Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, informed, “Immunohaematology is the core of safe blood transfusion practice, the foundation of which was laid by the Nobel laureate, Karl Landsteiner in the 19th century with the discovery of A,B and O blood groups. Lot of advancements in immumohaematology has occurred since then. But unfortunately the developments in our country have not kept pace with the developed world.”

With the support of the Government, blood transfusion services have definitely shown some improvements since the last decade. This seminar is an endeavour in this direction.

The highlight of the seminar was discussion on the importance of “Antibody Screening and Identification” as this forms a vital aspect in the blood safety programme. The experts stressed that the antibody screening for all patients should be made mandatory prior to any transfusions.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, India’s first JCI accredited hospital, is a joint venture between the Government of Delhi and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. It has the leading programme in kidney and liver transplant in the country. The first successful paediatrics and adult liver transplants in India were performed at the hospital.