Panel to probe blood blackmarketing in Kota

KOTA: A two-member committee has been formed to investigate the alleged black-marketing of blood from MBS Hospital's blood bank in Kota.
Amid suspicions of blood from professional donors being sold to patients, Dr R K Aaseri, superintendent of MBS Hospital, Kota, has formed a two-member investigation committee of Dr Usha Sharma, head of the department of pathology and Dr R K Singh, in-charge of the blood bank.They inspected the blood bank on Friday and are now scrutinizing its records. They also discussed the issue with the blood bank staff.
After receiving complaints from some against employees of MBS Hospital and the blood bank regarding selling of blood to the needy through commission agents, the hospital administration decided to investigate the matter. According to Dr Aaseri, the investigation committee will look into all the aspects and prepare its report.
According to the hospital's official sources, the blood bank of MBS Hospital is already facing a shortage of blood due to lack of voluntary blood donors. Looking at the shortage and to meet the demand of the needy, Dhakad Mahasabha has decided to organize a blood donation camp on June 24. Rotary Club, Kota will have a blood donation fare' on July 1 where the target is to collect 1,500 units of blood from donors.
Dr Ved Prakash Gupta, national president of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology (ISBTI) said number of voluntary donors decrease in summer.
When asked to comment on blackmarketing of blood in Kota, he replied that before 1980 there were many professional donors active but now the number has decreased due to ISBTI's efforts. A good number of voluntary donors have come forward and usually the shortage of blood does not exist. However, possibility of professional blood donors cannot be ruled out completely. Motivating voluntary blood donation is the only solution to this problem.