MUMBAI: The civic chief has been summoned by the state human rights body to hold a fact-finding inquiry and file an affidavit about poor functioning of the blood bank at KB Bhabha Hospital, Bandra. The chief complaint has been that the blood bank stops operating post 9pm which is against the expected standard of blood banks providing uninterrupted service round the clock.
On a complaint by advocate Tushar Bhonsale, the rights body directed the BMC chief to file a response by July 24. The complaint says ant cessation of services like cross-matching to find out blood group, after 9pm, creates significant inconvenience for patients who are either redirected to nearby centres or required to arrange blood on their own. “Running around for a life-saving product is human rights violation,” he said. The national blood policy requires blood banks to be open 24/7 to issue blood, even if they may limit hours to collect blood.
Civic officials acknowledged the problem but said it was a longstanding one. The hospital blood bank has three sanctioned posts but only is currently occupied. The second position is filled by an appointment from Mumbai District Aids Control Society, which comes with its own set of responsibilities. The third is occupied by contractual staff. Even if all three positions are filled, the medical superintendent, Dr Sanjay Patil, said the blood bank will still be unable to operate 24/7 since a lot more manpower would be required.
Citing bureaucratic issues in filling posts, he said recruitments are done by the public health department and not by the hospital. Also, temporary appointments last six months, resulting in time wasted on hiring new candidates, obtaining FDA nods, and providing training. However, samples cross-matched earlier in the day get blood supply through the night. Patients coming after 9pm are referred to Criticare Blood Bank which the hospital has partnered with.
Vinay Shetty of Think Foundation said if a blood bank can’t meet needs of its own patients, it calls for action. He, however, said many hospital-based blood banks in the city refuse blood to patients not admitted to their hospital.
Start a Conversation
Post comment