Patients to get free blood during their treatment at government hospitals

Maharashtra State Health Minister, Rajesh Tope, on Thursday, December 10,  announced that patients admitted at the government hospitals across the state will now be eligible to get free blood for their treatment. This new decision will be implemented from Saturday, December 12, 2020. 

The announcement was made on Thursday at a blood donation camp organized at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan by the State Blood Transfusion Council. Present at the occasion were MP Supriya Sule, activists and the Health Minister Tope, who also donated blood at the event.

Addressing the issue of blood shortage in the state, Health Minister Rajesh Tope and MP Supriya Sule donated blood and appealed to the citizens to do the same. He added that a fee of INR 800 is charged for blood transfusions at government hospitals, and after this new decision is implanted, blood shall be available for free to all the patients when needed during their treatment at the government hospitals. Furthermore, this initiative will be implemented through the National Health Mission.

Minister Tope also took to Twitter to inform the same, whereby he revealed the details of the event held in Mumbai.

राज्यात रक्त तुटवड्याच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर मी स्वत: व संसदरत्न खासदार सुप्रियाताई सुळे यांनी आज यशवंतराव चव्हाण प्रतिष्ठाण,मुंबई येथे
रक्तदान करून नागरिकांना रक्तदानासाठी आवाहन केले.

— Rajesh Tope (@rajeshtope11) December 10, 2020

Adding more, he stated that everyone is aware of the importance of blood in saving one's life. At present, the state has a total of 344 active blood banks, however, there is a limited supply of blood, which can only be enough for a few days. Currently, colleges across the state are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and offices have asked the employees to work from home, due to which organizations are not able to conduct blood donation camps. This has resulted in blood donation, leading to several concerns. ERV Maharashtra is a leader in blood collection across the country, and citizens should step forward to help the ones in need.

Furthermore, Minister Tope added that on the occasion of Sharad Pawar's birthday, a 'Swabhiman Saptah' will be conducted in the state from December 13 to 20, 2020, whereby a blood donation camp will be organized in every taluka. Citizens are requested to donate blood at the same, and also follow the process twice a year on their respective birthdays and anniversaries.