BSS General Hospital, Panipat gets blood bank after 5 years

After a long wait of over five years, the 200-bed Bhim Sen Sachar General Hospital here got its own blood bank and it would be operational after the official inauguration. The attendants of the patients getting treated in the hospital now need not run from pillar to post to arrange blood units.

The Health Department has also decided to construct a special blood storage unit at Samalkha Sub Divisional Hospital and the process has been started for the same.

CM’s announcement came in 2018

• CM Manohar Lal Khattar had made the announcement to establish the blood bank on November 1, 2018
• After the announcement, the authorities set it up on the first floor of the hospital
• The government had sent the equipment to run the blood bank worth over Rs 40 lakh in 2019
• The staff also got training from the PGIMS, Rohtak
• But, the blood bank didn’t get a licence as there was no pathologist

The general hospital, situated on the NH-44 at the district headquarters caters to a population of over 14 lakh.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had made an announcement to establish a blood bank in the hospital to provide better health facilities, during the ‘Jan Vishwas’ rally here on November 1, 2018.

After the announcement, the authorities had started preparing for the set up of the blood bank at the hospital and it was constructed near the dialysis centre on the first floor of the building.

The government had sent the equipment to run the blood bank worth over Rs 40 lakh in 2019. The staff of the hospital had also got training from the PGIMS, Rohtak.

However, this well-equipped blood bank didn’t get a license as there was no pathologist posted in the district. Sources said the licence to run the blood bank could be given only in the name of a pathologist.

Several reminders were sent by the Civil Surgeon to the state government demanding a pathologist to make the blood bank functional. The issue was raised at various meetings at the headquarters.

Following the demand, the state government had sent a pathologist, Dr Rajat Gupta, to the hospital in September last year. After his joining, the health authorities began the process to get the licence for the blood bank.

Finally, the hospital got a licence for the blood bank for whole blood processing in February-end.

Dr Rajat Gupta said the blood bank would be started after a formal inauguration. “At present, 30-40 blood units are required on a daily basis at the hospital and the Red Cross blood bank is fulfilling the requirement. However, after the blood bank is functional, patients will not need to run here and there,” he said.

“There will be a capacity of keeping 250-300 tested blood units at the blood bank, which could be increased gradually,” he said.

“Blood units will be provided free of cost to the patients admitted at this hospital. If any person, whose patient is admitted in a private hospital, comes to take blood units, he will have to pay Rs 1,100 which includes testing charges for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, vidal, malaria, etc., and charges for blood bag,” he said.

Dr Jayant Ahuja, Civil Surgeon, said all preparations had been completed to make the blood bank functional and it would be functional after a formal inauguration.

“As the hospital has 200 beds and soon, a 100-bedded mother and child care wing will be started, then this will prove to be a big facility for the patients, he said. Tribune India