SHILLONG: Congress MLA George Lyngdoh raised concern on blood marketers in the state who make thousands of rupees from relatives of patients seeking blood from the open market.
Taking part in the discussion during question hour, Lyngdoh said that relatives who cannot replace blood in blood Banks turn to the open market to get blood which is illegal.
In this connection, he asked the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, AL Hek whether options would be explored to include blood donation under MHIS. At this, the Minister replied that the matter would be examined.
In reply to questions raised by Independent MLA, SK Sunn, Hek stated that it was not mandatory for every hospital to have Blood Bank within the premises.
When Sunn stressed on the need to have Blood Banks at the premises of Civil Hospital and Ganesh Das Hospital, Hek. Said, “Will try to explore possibilities to have blood banks in hospitals.”
Replying to a supplementary question raised by Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, Hek said that blood was available in Regional Blood Bank at Pasteur Institute, Tura Civil Hospital, Jowai Civil Hospital, NEIGRIHMS, Military Hospital, Robert Hospital and Nazareth Hospital.