The need for pharmacists to wear aprons and gloves while dispensing the medicines in the retail stores, the presence of a pharmacist at drug stores, voluntary donation of blood were some of the issues discussed at the Pharmacy Week 2002 being celebrated by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association, AP Chapter, from November 17 to 23, 2002.

There was acute shortage of blood in the blood banks and donors should come in large numbers, said P Ananthasayanam Reddy, Additional Director-General of Drugs and Copyright on Wednesday. He said charitable institutions, which wanted to set up blood banks on non-commercial basis, would be given permission and would not face hurdles or objections from the Drug Control Administration.

He was speaking at the blood donation awareness camp, being held as part of the Pharmacy Week celebrations. Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi was the chief guest at the function held at the premises of the Drug Control office. More than 150 people donated blood. Blood donation was organized in collaboration with the blood and eye bank run by the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust.

Chiranjeevi said the blood bank established by his trust four years ago would be upgraded into a blood component unit and shifted to its own premises by next year. The bank had collected blood from more than 23,000 people and helped more than 19,000 by supplying blood free of cost so far.

He said how difficult it was to get medicines in the west, especially in the US without prescription and he lauded the role of pharmacists in the country in supplying drugs across the counter in emergencies. Hundreds of his fans thronged the venue to shake hands with him and donate blood.

D Hanumantha Rao, president of the Association, who presided over the meeting, said efforts would be made to conduct similar camps every year in different parts of the country by the IPA units. The AP unit would be ready to send volunteers to donate blood to the needy anywhere any time.

Dr Khadgapathi, general secretary, gave a brief and interesting note on the functioning of blood in the human body and its importance for the sustenance of life. He said there would be five litres of blood in an average person's body and donating 200 ml was harmless. That much blood would be formed in a day or two.

He said the following precautions should be taken while collecting blood:

· Use disposable quality syringes and tags
· Check the blood group of the donor
· Test the blood for hepatitis, HIV, malaria, TB and other infectious diseases
· The donor should not have any serious diseases
· The donor should be above 18 years and should be in good health and weight
· A cross-match must ensure that there will be no dangerous reactions.
· If blood transfusion is done within the family members there will be less risk of infections.