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Rajasthan Boosts Blood Stocks for Pregnant Women
31 Jul
Summary
- Government blood centers to collect 50% of donations from private camps.
- New policy ensures blood for pregnant women without replacement donors.
- Maternal deaths prompted policy changes due to blood availability issues.
Facing dwindling blood reserves after implementing a policy that provides blood to pregnant women without requiring replacement donors, Rajasthan's government has revised its blood collection strategy. State-run blood centers are now directed to collect 50% of the blood donated at voluntary camps organized by private entities across the state.
This revised guideline, effective from July 29, aims to enhance blood availability in government facilities, which anticipate increased demand. The Rajasthan State Blood Transfusion Council's July 23 order mandated that all blood centers supply blood and its components to pregnant women regardless of replacement donors.
This shift in policy was prompted by recent maternal mortality figures, with 19 deaths reported in five districts since May, often linked to post-caesarean complications. Officials identified delays in blood arrangement as a critical factor in obstetric emergencies. The government is also intensifying voluntary donation drives and compiling lists of rare blood group donors.
