The Central government is planning to create a regulatory framework called Blood Transfusion Authority on the lines of FDA to monitor various aspects like blood collection, storage and distribution. A suitable legislation to bring this activity under the regulatory umbrella is being prepared in this regard.

The move is to put in place a fool-proof mechanism with world standards in a couple of years from now to monitor and regulate the spectrum of blood transfusion services so that the diseases transmissible from blood like HIV and Hepatitis B could be brought down, sources said.

Faced with the issues of volume, access and quality of blood, the Centre is also initiating steps to establish four model centres of excellence in the four metros. Each will have a capacity to collect and process one lakh units of blood annually.

There is a regulatory framework already in place in the country and blood transfusion councils are existing at the State levels. But the creation of an authority at the Central level would streamline the entire gamut of transfusion services, besides easing the burden on the DCGI, which is now, has the responsibility as the regulatory body. The new authority would be an autonomous body under the Health Ministry, sources said.

Though there are plenty of collection centres in the private sector, country is still short of at least three million units of blood every year. Currently, there is collection of five million units per year. The new authority would bring in uniformity in collection, storage and distribution of blood.

As per the current rules, the safety of blood transfusion is looked after by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and there are state Blood Transfusion Services at the State levels. A national blood programme was also in place, but not fully effective so far. The new authority is expected to monitor the same with periodical evaluations.