Jaipur: Facing pressure on blood stocks after mandating blood supply to pregnant women without replacement donors, Rajasthan govt has directed state-run blood centres to collect 50% of blood donated at voluntary camps organised by private blood banks, NGOs and other organisations across the state.Earlier, govt blood centres collected 20% of blood from such camps, with the remaining collection handled by other blood centres. The revised guidelines, issued by the health department on July 29, aim to strengthen blood availability in govt blood banks, which are expected to face higher demand after the no-replacement policy for pregnant women.The move follows a July 23 order by Rajasthan State Blood Transfusion Council (RSBTC), directing all govt and private blood centres to provide blood and blood components to pregnant women without insisting on replacement donors. TOI was the first to report the RSBTC order and its likely impact on blood stocks.Principal secretary (health and medical education) Gayatri Rathore said the revised arrangement would reduce dependence on replacement donors and improve timely availability of blood during emergencies.“With implementation of the new arrangement, the need for blood replacement will decrease and availability of blood in the state will be further strengthened. This will ensure blood is available to patients on time in emergency situations, and family members will not have to face unnecessary trouble in arranging blood,” Rathore said.Under the revised guidelines, govt blood centres will deploy medical teams to voluntary blood donation camps to collect their 50% share in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The teams will carry medicines, equipment and other material required for blood collection.The department has directed medical officers in charge of all blood centres to ensure strict compliance with the new instructions.The July 23 RSBTC order extended the no-replacement policy to women receiving antenatal care at govt hospitals, pregnant women with anaemia and women requiring transfusions during delivery.Earlier, no-replacement blood was largely available only to patients with thalassaemia, sickle cell disease, trauma cases and girls aged below 14. The latest order brought maternity cases in govt hospitals, particularly those involving severe anaemia and delivery-related emergencies, under the same category.The policy shift followed concern over maternal deaths reported in recent months. Since May, 19 women have died across five districts, many following post-caesarean complications. Officials found that delays in arranging blood or replacement donors could prove fatal in obstetric emergencies.The govt has also directed blood centres to intensify voluntary blood donation drives, coordinate with NGOs, colleges, community groups and individual donors, and prepare lists of rare blood group donors for emergencies.
