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Urgent Call for Blood Transfusion Bill After HIV Cases
18 Dec
Summary
- Thalassemia groups demand swift passage of the National Blood Transfusion Bill.
- Recent HIV infections in children highlight systemic failures in blood safety.
- Bill aims to regulate blood collection, testing, storage, and transfusion.
Thalassemia patient advocacy groups have strongly urged the Union government to expedite the passage of the National Blood Transfusion Bill, 2025. This call comes in the wake of recent incidents where children undergoing blood transfusions were diagnosed with HIV, indicating potential systemic failures in blood safety protocols.
The proposed bill aims to establish a robust national framework for blood transfusion services, covering collection, testing, storage, and transfusion procedures. Its enactment is seen as crucial for preventing transfusion-transmissible infections like HIV and hepatitis, thereby safeguarding the health of vulnerable patients who depend on regular transfusions for survival.
Experts emphasize that while regular blood transfusions are essential for thalassemia patients, inadequate screening poses significant risks. The current situation underscores the urgent need for regulatory measures and specialized testing to ensure blood safety, especially as curative treatments like bone marrow transplants remain largely inaccessible due to high costs.
