March 19, 2025
Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose’s Zero Hour mention regarding the need for robust blood transfusion laws to help those battling thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia
Sir, the country faces serious shortages in the supply of healthy uninfected blood. Many are in danger of serious health risks of contracting diseases from infected blood through blood transfusions. Blood banks are under enormous pressure and often fall short of healthy blood. The country requires 14.6 million units of blood annually, yet faces a shortfall of around 7 million units each year. This is extremely worrying as countless lives, particularly those infected with Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia, depend on access to safe uninfected blood. There have been reports of shortages of the life saving drug for Thalessemics Desferal. India has 1,50,000 individuals diagnosed with Thalassemia major who depend on regular blood transfusion for their very survival. Blood transfusion services are fragmented and contain many inefficiencies. Those who are fortunate enough to receive transfusions sometimes contract HIV. There is a notable and growing reluctance in India for citizens to donate blood. It is vital to spread awareness and to educate people on the benefits of blood donation. If we donate blood, we become healthier. The donor’s health can improve after blood donation by the stimulation of new blood cell production and maintenances of healthy levels of iron. By way of parenthesis, I can say that the device of Zero Hour allows us to raise these urgent peoples’ issues. Yes, Sir. Through you, I want to request the Government to focus on the urgent need for a comprehensive new national blood law that emphasizes voluntary blood donation and implements stringent blood screening protocols including NAT. This would significantly reduce the risk of contracting HIV and Hepatitis through infected transfusions of blood. Unless this is done, those requiring blood transfusions would continue to face life threatening risks. A stark example of this was when 23 children contracted HIV because… they were given infected blood through blood transfusions. Access to safe blood is a cornerstone of modern healthcare playing an essential role in the care and survival of countless citizens.
