With the installation of blood separation and blood storage equipment worth more than Rs. 70 lakh, officials at Government Lady Goschen Hospital here believe they are well on their way to be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH). However, the multi-component blood bank may take more than a month to receive its license to operate.
Shakuntala M.M., Medical Superintendent, Government Lady Goschen Hospital, said the centre exceeded the standards mentioned for an advanced blood bank. “After the new building is constructed, we will be in a position to apply for national accredition,” she said.
National accredition would enhance the status of Lady Goschen from a district hospital to a nationally-significant medical centre.
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The equipment has been donated by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) under their Corporate Social Responsibility scheme. With the installation of the equipment, the Indian Red Cross Society-run blood bank transforms from a ‘whole blood’ bank to a ‘component separation’ blood bank.
The Rs. 32 lakh refrigerator centrifuge, the Rs. 2.71 lakh platelet agitator, Rs. 1.56 lakh cryo bath, and other equipment – cumulatively coming to Rs. 70.91 lakh – ensures that the blood collected is separated to four components: red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. “This reduces wastage of blood and optimises blood resources, as, for example, dengue patients need only platelets and not the whole blood component,” said officials.
Automation ensures optimum use of the blood drawn, while also improving the quality of the blood component.
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Moreover, with advanced storage equipment, nearly 1,500 bags of blood (each bag is between 350 and 400ml), can be stored up to a month, said Ms. Shakuntala.
While the hospital will own the centre, Indian Red Cross Society will maintain the blood bank. BPCL had donated a total of Rs. 1 crore to the hospital, and the remainder of the money would be used to set up a generator unit for the complex.
Economically-backward patients will be given blood for free, while, various components will be given at rates ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 700 per 300 ml bag.
However, the centre has started the process of obtaining a license from the Drug Controller for distributing separate components.
“This will take a minimum of one month,” said Ms. Shakuntala.