Blood banks can no longer issue blood based on prescriptions by AYUSH doctors, says a circular issued by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). This announcement comes as a result of rampant use of blood transfusion treatments that has lead to infections and death.

The Reason behind the Circular

Alternate medicine practitioners are in shock after this announcement. According to industry insiders, Mumbai hospitals could face hardships since lot of them have hired ayurveda doctors to run their wards and ICUs. This decision was solely taken to ensure patient safety. Strict monitoring and knowing who prescribed blood and how much is important, according to DR GN Singh from the DCGI. The circular is based on a clause in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act that allows blood banks only to accept prescriptions from MBBS doctors, dentists and certified veterinarians. Alternate medicines practitioners feel this will greatly affect healtchare delivery in rural areas.

Federation of Bombay Blood Banks confirmed receipt of this circular and said that the Health Ministry and FDA have implemented the same. The blood banks could not decide if this ‘controversial decision’ was right or wrong. While the reason behind the circular is the fact that 4 of 12 deaths last year were due to over-transfusion of platelets and also a much more startling statistic founds via an RTI of the National Aids Control Organisation that nearly 1,000 people have contracted HIV in Maharashtra due to transfusion of infected blood over the past 5 years.

Vinay Shetty of NGO ‘Think Foundation’ Studies says that even one unite of unsafe blood is a huge health risk. He says, “It is imperative that blood transfusions are given only to patients who absolutely need it. Studies in the US have shown that as much as 30% of blood transfusions can be avoided,” One of the technicians at a leading blood bank presented another perspective and said that many ayurveda and homeopathy doctors often prescribed blood to raise haemoglobin levels, something that can easily be done with tablets.

What alternate medicine practitioners say

But the alternate med practitioners too have a  few questions of their own – During an accident or delivery how does one ‘always’  find an MBBS doctor to write a prescription? Dr. Bahubali Shah (President – Homeopathy Council of Maharashtra) brought up this key question and also added that the government should train alternative medicine practitioners in methods and practices of blood transfusion. This would allow them to diagnose and perform the procedure appropriately and fill in the gaps where MBBS doctors are not available. At present nearly 1.2 lakh alternative medical practitioners make up for the missing MBBS doctors.

Orignial Article – Times of India

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