Lok Sabha Question No. 3269 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: World Blood Donor Day
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Manjulata Mandal, C.N. Annadurai, Dhanush M Kumar, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3269 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022

## WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY

## 3269.   SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

DR. PON GAUTHAM SIGAMANI:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has observed World Blood Donor Day recently;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  theme  of  the  event  and  initiatives  undertaken therein;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  push  for  a  multi-sectoral  and  multistakeholder  collaboration,  creating  opportunities  and  raise  public  awareness  for  safe  blood donation in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the blood bank facilities are not available in several districts in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to formulate any blood bank policy stipulating setting up at least one blood bank in every district across the country including Odisha?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a) to (c): World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) was observed on 14 th June, 2022, all over the country  involving  States/UTs,  other  Central  Government  Ministries,  Central  Government Institutions & Hospitals, Medical Colleges etc. The theme of World Blood Donor Day 2022 was " Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and save lives". The details are as follows:
- (i) A letter was issued by the Secretary (Health) on 1 st June to all States/UTs and Central Government  Ministries  followed  by  a  meeting  with  the  States  held  on  7-6-2022  for planning and sensitising about various awareness activities to be organized on 'World Blood Donor Day (WBDD)'
- (ii) The facility for blood group testing was made available on 14th June, 2022 at health centres,  hospitals  and  blood  banks  to  help  the  common  citizens  to  know  their  blood group as it will be useful in emergencies for the purpose of blood donation.
- (iii) The  Pledge  for  blood  donation  was  administered  in  various  organizations,  medical colleges etc. The Blood Donation Pledge facility was also provided online on MyGov platform. All those who wish to pledge may visit the following link https://pledge.mygov.in/world-blood-donorday-2022/
- (iv) Facility  for  registration  of  persons  willing  for  blood  donation  has  been  enabled  on Aarogya Setu App to facilitate voluntary blood donation.
- (v) The  e-RaktKosh  web  portal  was  earmarked  to  serve  as  the  interface  for  Blood Centres/Blood Banks and also has facility for registering voluntary blood donors. For this, all blood banks are encouraged to register on e-RaktKosh web-portal. An Advisory in this regard was issued by DCGI on 3-6-2022.
- (vi) Campaign to promote voluntary blood donation was carried out through social media.
- (vii) Because of huge campaign carried out by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the # World Blood Donor Day was trending at No. 1 on twitter on 14th June, 2022.
- (viii) Various  awareness  activities  to  promote  blood  donation,  blood  donation  pledging, blood group testing etc. were carried out by States/UTs also.

Government  engages  with  different  Government  departments,  Public  sector  undertakings, States and Union Territories, international partners like WHO, voluntary organizations like Indian  Red  Cross  Society,  blood  donor  associations,  professional  associations  and  other stakeholders for creating opportunities to donate and raise public awareness on the need for safe  blood  donation  and  transfusion  in  the  country.  The  Government  supports  various activities  like  organising  blood  donation  camps,  observance  of  special  days  namely  World Blood Donor Day and Voluntary Blood Donation Day, pledging campaigns and motivating various youth groups etc. The Government has also made a provision of four special casual leaves per year that can be availed by Central Government employees for donating blood.

(d)  &  (e):  As  per  the  information  available,  the  list  of  Districts  without  Blood  Banks  is  at Annexure-1. At present, a total of 3932 licensed blood banks (blood centers) are existing as on 31st July 2022 in the Country.

It is primarily the responsibility of the State/UT Governments to consider setting up of blood banks as per their need.

Government has adopted the National Blood Policy in the year 2002. The policy advocates for a hub and spoke approach towards blood transfusion services, wherein blood is collected and  processed  in  the  hubs,  which  are  high  volume  blood  banks  and  distributed  through spokes, which are smaller blood banks and blood storage centers. The requirement of blood banks depends upon the health infrastructure of the area. However, blood storage centres can be established in remote areas to meet the emergency requirement of blood, which may be attached to blood banks.

## Annexure 1

## Districts without Blood Banks (As on 3 rd Aug 2022)

|   Sr. No. | Name of State/UT   | Names of Districts without Blood Banks                                                                                              |
|-----------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Arunachal Pradesh  | Kamle, PakkeKessang, Shi Yomi, Lepa Rada, East Kameng, Kra Daadi, Siang, Lower Siang, Namsai, Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Tirap, Longding |
|         2 | Assam              | South Salmara Manchachar, Charaideo, Hojai, Kamrup, Bajali                                                                          |
|         3 | Bihar              | Supaul                                                                                                                              |
|         4 | Himachal Pradesh   | Lahaul and Spiti                                                                                                                    |
|         5 | Madhya Pradesh     | Niwari                                                                                                                              |
|         6 | Manipur            | Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Bishnupur, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Kakching, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Noney, Pherzawl                |
|         7 | Meghalaya          | South-West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills, South West Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, South Garo Hills                               |
|         8 | Nagaland           | Peren, Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Wokha, Phek, Tuensang, Zunheboto, Noklak                                                             |