With the launch of 'e-RaktKosh' initiative, an integrated blood bank management information system two months ago, the Government has set ball rolling for setting up the web-enabled system for ensuring easy availability of blood for patients across the States.
A senior Health Ministry official said after Health Minister JP Nadda launched the e-blood bank initiative this April, States are coming forward to connect the banks, though initially on the pilot project basis. Under the system, the patients or their relatives just have to log on to a website or make a call to trace the blood bank where the particular group of blood is available, he explained the concept of e-raktkosh also called as e-blood bank.
Madhya Pradesh is working on connecting blood banks through website at MY Hospital, MGM Medical College, Indore, JA Hospital, GR Medical College in Gwalior and at Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre in Bhopal.
The West Bengal Government has Initially selected five blood banks for the purpose -Kolkata Medical College and Hospital Blood Bank, Bankura Sammilani Medical College Bankura, Purulia District Hospital Blood Bank, Purulai, Tamluk District Hospital Blood Bank, Purba Medinipur and Barasat District Hospital Blood Bank, North 24 Parganas.
Sources said that 58 West Bengal Government blood banks would be linked in the initial phase before including all 108 blood banks in the state. Similarly, the facility would be first accessed through the Internet and land line phones before connecting it with cell phones.
Uttar Pradesh has shown keenness to roll out the e-rakt kosh in blood banks of King George Medical University, RMl Hospital and Balrampur Hospital of lucknow district on pilot basis from next month, the official added.
The web-enabled system would provide online status of blood group wise availability of blood units in all the licensed blood banks in the state.
It includes online tracking and trailing system of the blood and blood products (components of blood) by the state level administrators. Under the new service, bar-coding of blood bags will be done to ensure blood collected first is used first in 100 per cent cases. Thus, minimising wastage of blood.
With the setting up of network of eblood banks across the country, health Ministry hopes to ensure easy availability of blood given that at least 234 million major operations are conducted every year in the country while 10 million pregnancy related complications are reported. Also, with such service, agony of the patients suffering from blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and hemophilia who require repeated blood transfusion can be lessened.