Kolkata: The state health department has summoned the authorities of all 73 private blood banks in the state to submit a signed declaration stating they would follow all blood-safety norms set up by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the State BTC. The move comes in the wake of the department finding 12 private blood centres violating the norms. On Wednesday the Calcutta High Court also asked the health department to complete the probe against the 12 blood centres within seven days.In addition, the govt blood banks have been asked not to refuse blood and blood components against valid requisition. They were also asked to coordinate with other blood centres in case of unavailability while keeping the focus on the needs of thalassemia and transfusion-dependent patients.There are 89 blood centres run by the state and 17 run by the central govt.The undertaking by the private blood banks should state that modern medicine doctors would always be present at voluntary blood donation camps, no blood will be collected from minors, only the allowed amount of blood will be drawn from donors, and the SBTC will be informed before transfer of bulk amount of blood components.All the blood-bank officials have been asked to to visit Swasthya Bhawan to sign the declaration.Health officials said some blood banks were found to have been violating norms, leading to one being shut down and 11 being barred from holding blood donation camps outside.
