The parliamentary standing committee attached to the Union Health Ministry has pulled up the ministry for the slow pace of work in setting up 39 new district level blood banks in the under-served areas of the country.

"The committee is dismayed at the fact that the Department has not been able to take up the matter of setting up of the district level blood banks with a sense of urgency. The Department itself is aware that these 39 blood banks have been identified on the basis of an assessment of urgent requirement in under-served areas. Hence, a delay in setting up of the blood banks as envisaged, is against Department's obligations to see that the facilities reach these under-served areas," the panel in its recent report said.

The panel asked the ministry to play a pro-active role by taking up the matter of non-availability of adequate infrastructure, manpower and delay in issuance of license with the concerned state governments as well as the agencies at an appropriate level to expedite the procedural formalities. It also asked the ministry to consider providing appropriate additional funds, if required, for infrastructure and manpower related matters so that there is no delay due to financial constraints.

At present, 783 low volume blood banks are functioning in various districts of the country. During the planning of national aids control programme (NACP) phase-III, an assessment was carried out about the requirement of blood banks in the country. Accordingly, a target of 39 blood banks in newly created districts was kept in NACP - III. The states which are having maximum shortfall of low volume blood banks in districts are Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

But, against the target of setting up of 39 blood banks during the 11th Plan, a target of only 15 blood banks was fixed during the first three years of the Plan. Further, against an already low target of 15 blood banks, only 11 blood banks could be established upto February, 2010.

Meanwhile, explaining about the delay, senior health ministry officials said that against the target of setting up of blood banks in the 39 newly created districts with support under NACP III, 10 districts have obtained the license to operate as a blood bank in district level hospitals. Out of the remaining 29 districts, in 6 districts, necessary requirements as per provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act has been provided and these blood banks are waiting for joint inspection from State Drug Control Authorities for issuance of license.

The constraints in setting up the blood banks in these districts are non availability of adequate infrastructure, manpower and delay in issuance of license. Total 23 districts are not having a district hospital of their own. The matter is being followed up with the state governments from time to time. In the remaining districts, the blood banks will be set up only after the conditions are fulfilled as per the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, officials said.