In sync with the digital India campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) has asked the blood banks to regularly update their stock data on the National Health Portal (NHP). The move would be of immense help as the patients and their relatives would be able to directly contact the blood bank which is having the blood type and component they require.
In a letter directed to all Blood banks, the President of NBTC, N S Kang said that all licensed blood banks of the country have been enrolled on the NHP. “The individual facilities (blood banks) are required to provide authentic information pertaining to Blood/ Component stock status and the same has to be updated regularly as this information would be in public domain and has to be fruitful to the end user,’’ the letter says. The NBTC has directed the blood banks that it should be ensured that the information provided is completed/verified/corrected and is up to date.
The Senior Pathologist and in charge of blood bank of Doon hospital, Dr S K Nautiyal told The Pioneer that the step would be of immense benefit for those seeking blood for their near and dear ones as with the help of technology they would be able to know which blood bank is needed to be approached during need. He added that online updating of data would also improve transparency in the operation of blood banks. It is learnt that the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has came into action mode after the directive of NBTC and is working on the process of installing software in blood banks. The NBTC and National AIDS Control Organisation had launched a mobile blood locator app on World Blood Donor Day last year in partnership with
Centre for Health Informatics, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This mobile app is available on Android platform and NBTC is planning to extend it to other platforms as well.