Odisha Health minister seeks report on sale of plasma by blood banks

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 4:

Odisha Health minister Dr Damodar Rout has asked Odisha State Aids Control Society (OSAC) to submit a report on the sale of blood plasma to a private company Reliance Life Sciences within 3 days, sources said.

The minister, who was apparently kept in the dark about the Health department’s move with regard to sale of plasma by the blood banks in the state, sought a detailed report in the matter following widespread criticism over the sale of blood plasma to a private company.

Questions have been raised over the propriety of selling blood components to a private company as also the low amount at which (Rs 1000 per litre) plasma is being offered to Reliance Life Sciences.

Sources in the OSAC said the idea to sell plasma was mooted to generate revenue to run the blood banks better. There is an acute shortage of funds now and that explains why a decision to sell plasma was taken, the sources informed, adding, there was no other motive behind the move.

The state government now needs to explain to the people why blood banks which are the lifeline for hundreds of patients on a daily basis can not be funded by the state government towards it upkeep and development, an activist connected with blood donation drives in the state capital said.