The Uttar Pradesh government has recently made an important decision regarding voluntary blood donors in the state. Donors will now have the convenience of using their donor cards at any of the government-run blood banks throughout Uttar Pradesh.
The State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has officially announced that donor cards issued by any government blood bank after voluntary blood donation can be redeemed at all state blood banks. Previously, these cards could only be utilized at the specific blood bank that had issued them.
Donor cards are issued for each unit of blood donated voluntarily, where no blood is received in exchange. However, if blood is obtained for a patient in exchange for the donation, no donor card is issued.
Letter detailing this decision sent to all state-run blood banks in Uttar Pradesh
The decision to allow donor card redemption at any blood bank within the state was made by the State Core Committee of the SBTC. This decision was prompted by the realization that donors faced difficulties when trying to obtain blood using their donor cards in different districts or at blood banks other than where they had originally donated. A letter detailing this decision was sent to all state-run blood banks in Uttar Pradesh by the SBTC.
Dr. Tulika Chandra, the head of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at King George’s Medical University, expressed her support for the decision, stating that many healthy individuals donate blood with the expectation of being able to receive blood in exchange when they or their loved ones are in need. This new policy will greatly benefit those who cannot find a donor during their time of need but have a valid donor card.
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Dr. Abhishek Shukla, the Secretary General of the Association of International Doctors, highlighted the importance of this decision, explaining that sometimes a required blood group may not be available at one particular blood bank, forcing individuals to seek assistance from another. With the new policy, individuals possessing a donor card will find relief as it will be valid at multiple blood banks. Otherwise, they would have had to search for a new donor, which can be challenging when in an unfamiliar location and time is of the essence.
All state-run blood banks have been instructed to comply with this order and inform the SBTC accordingly.
