Free of cost blood in Punjab hospitals from today

As part of the state government's mission 'Tandarust Punjab', across the state, all the government hospitals will provide blood and blood components free of cost to patients.

Indian medical officer checkd the weight of blood bags during a blood donation event on the occasion of "World Blood Donor Day" in Jalandhar on June 14, 2018. - World Blood Donor Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on June 14 with to raise awareness of the need for safe blood. (Photo by SHAMMI MEHRA / AFP)

Chandigarh: Blood will be provided free of cost from January 1 in all government hospitals across Punjab, Health and Family Welfare Minister Brahm Mohindra said on Monday.

As part of the state government's mission 'Tandarust Punjab', across the state, all the government hospitals will provide blood and blood components free of cost to patients.

"Not only shall be blood provided free of cost, it will also be ensured that the blood is available round the clock in all the hospitals," the Minister said in a statement.

Earlier patients had to pay processing charges of Rs 300 per unit of blood in civil hospitals and Rs 500 per unit in government medical colleges.

"From now, blood and blood components like packed RBC, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, platelets rich plasma and platelet concentrate will be given free of cost to all the patients," he said.

In case of the road accidents or the patients who are undergoing surgeries, blood is the first important requirement, said the minister.

There are a total of 116 blood banks in Punjab, out of which 46 are being operated by the government, six by the Army and 64 others being run by private entities, said Mohindra.

2.26 lakh units of blood were collected by government blood banks, in the last few years, the minister informed. He added that to streamline health services, the Punjab government has launched a web portal 'E-Raktkosh' to facilitate the availability of blood.