Nagpur: Blood transfusion services (BTS) in India are neither safe nor adequate. About 1.7 to 2% blood donors are infected with either hepatitis B/C, HIV, syphilis or malaria etc. Hence, there is need to promote the concept of Repeat Regular Blood Donor (RRBD) for safe blood availability. Also, to create uniform blood quality, there is need for a centralized blood banking system — the ‘Hub and Spoke’ model of blood banks.
“Basic purpose of BTS is to provide adequate and safe blood to the needy. In developed world, almost 4 to 6% of the population donates blood. But in India this figure is just about 0.8 to 0.9%. As per World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2% of the population should donate blood annually to bridge the demand-supply gap,” said Dr Harish Warbhe, who owns Lifeline Blood Bank.
India has 2,800 blood banks whereas the US has just 13 and rest there are satellite centres of these banks. The US model is called ‘Hub and Spoke’ model whereas the Indian BTS services are fragmented. Because of centralized services, blood quality in the US is uniform while in India the quality is very good in some banks, moderate in others and bad in a majority. In fact, in rural parts either there is no blood or the quality of blood is unsafe, Dr Warbhe said.
Dr Warbhe says, “In developed world nowhere whole blood is given to any patient. Everyone gets only the required blood component. In India, this is not the case as only 40-50% patients are given blood components and the remaining get whole blood. This is sheer waste of precious blood. One donor can serve three patients by giving components. Also, in whole blood transfusion, there are ample chances of transfusion-related adverse reactions.”
In the West, there is a concept of RRBD which means that same donor donates repeatedly. Since the donor is tested for infections every time, chances of him/her carrying any infections are almost ruled out increasing the safety aspect. In India, most blood donors are generally first-time donors or unaware of the infections they may be carrying.
Another factor which ensures blood quality is the use of latest techniques for testing. Generally only Elisa, spot or rapid test is conducted to check infections while the need is for a robust and sensitive NAT (nucleic acid test or nucleic acid amplification) testing.
Dr Ravi Wankhede of Jeevan Jyoti Blood Bank insists that to increase blood donation, stress should be laid on donation by persons in government service. “In the West, prime ministers and presidents also donate blood regularly when it is due without any hue and cry. But in India not even a corporator donates blood,” he said.
