As a part of it's Golden Jubilee celebration initiatives, Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA) had organized an ‘All India Mega Blood Donation Drive’ on “World Blood Donor Day”, yesterday. The camp was organized at almost 100 centres across the country with a target of 10,000 bottles.
The blood donation drive was inaugurated by the chief guests, Suresh Shetty- Maharashtra State Minister of Public Health & Family Welfare and Protocol and Sachin Ahir, Maharashtra State Minister for Housing at the headquarters of IDMA in Mumbai. Eminent Social Worker & Fashion Designer Shaina N C was the Guest of Honour.
Suresh Shetty, prior to inauguration spoke on his plans to curb the menace of corruption and supply of sub-standard drugs to Government hospitals in Maharashtra. He talked on plans to abolish the present system of supply of branded drugs and rate contracts to make the system transparent. He informed that bulk orders for generic drugs would be procured by tender process from large manufacturers on yearly basis, earmarking the quantity to be supplied to government warehouses in Maharashtra, every month. These supplies at warehouses would be tested by FDA and no drugs would be rolled out in supply chain if the quality was not approved by FDA. Thus, there would be full transparency in this system, at the same time ensuring supply of high quality drugs duly approved by FDA at competitive rates, for the benefit of the people of Maharashtra.
Suresh Shetty further proposed to sell generic drugs by tender process to public at large, from public stalls. He informed that a limited number of stalls would be given to a single manufacturer to avoid any kind of monopoly over these public supply stalls.
N I Gandhi - Chairman of Organizing Committee, IDMA Golden Jubilee Celebrations informed that blood donation drive was arranged in full swing with 85 centres already operational all over India and they would reach the target of 100 centres & 1000 bottles of blood over three days time. He further informed that similar blood donation drive can be arranged again on October 1, if needed.
Suresh Shetty further said that there were around 25,000 HIV positive children in Maharashtra. Since a section of such children in rural area had difficulties in commuting to far off medical centres for their treatment and blood replacement, he appealed to IDMA having a strength of 750 members to take care of transportation of such children. He suggested that even if each member could adopt one or two children, this problem could be solved.
Daara B Patel, Secretary General, IDMA said that this mega event was being undertaken with the support of Dr Yogini Patel-Director, Education and Research, BSES MG Hospital, Mumbai, Anil Gare –Secretary, Voluntary Blood Donation Committee, Government of Maharashtra and Dr Narinder Naidu- Medical Director, Blood Banks, Mumbai of Indian Red Cross Society. The date of All India Mega Donation Drive was important as it coincided with World Blood Donor Day and secondly in the month of June around which time, all blood banks usually fall short in supply of blood.
The inaugural event ended with vote of thanks by Manish Doshi, Hon. General Secretary of IDMA.
The blood donation drive was sponsored by J B Chemicals & Biochem duly represented by D B Mody and Mayank Shah respectively.