RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.14: More private blood banks are likely to be established in the State.
The Jharkhand Aids Control Society (JACS) today invited applications from charitable trusts, NGOs, social organisations and hospitals besides individuals and other interested parties to set up blood banks in various districts.
According to the website of the society, anyone can establish a blood bank after an investment of Rs 60 lakh. For running the blood bank one will have to spend Rs Rs 5 lakh (approx) per month approximately.
Assistant director (blood safety) of JACS, Dr Sudhir Kumar, confirmed the fact saying it is being done to meet the blood deficit in the state.
“The State has a population of 3.5 crores. Thus blood requirement per annum in the state is 3.5 lakh units but we are getting hardly 2.14 lakh units which is much below the requirement. As the number of blood banks is only 61 at present, more blood banks are planned and private parties are being asked to come forward for the same,” Dr Kumar said confirming the exercise.
However, Atul Gera, founder president of the voluntary organisation, Live Saver, who is known for his contribution in the field of blood donation, termed the exercise unnecessary saying it will make blood availability difficult for the poor.
“61 blood banks are sufficient to cater to the needs of the state as it has sufficient space to store blood. The government instead of paying attention to the opening of blood banks should pay attention to blood donation camps to ensure that the refrigerators of none of the blood banks remain vacant,” Gera said.
Asked whether private blood banks will not help in the organization of more blood donation camps, Gera laughed and replied he does ‘not think so’.
He further said: “Out of 61 blood banks, at least 50 percent are private. As far as organizing blood donation camps are concerned, 90 percent camps are organized by government blood banks while hardly 10 percent camps are organized by private blood banks. The establishment of private blood banks will only make the availability of blood costly for the poor. The blood, for which they do not have to pay at government blood banks, will be available for at least Rs 2000 per unit in case private blood banks become operational.”
“People have faith in government-run blood banks as the scope of malpractice is limited there and thus instead of paying attention to opening private blood banks attention is required to be given on government blood banks,” Gera added.
