After HIV+ blood transfused, Bathinda govt hospital faces shortage of donors

Sameer Singh
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, November 23

The HIV-positive blood transfusion row at a government hospital in Bathinda has led to trust deficit among residents of the district as neither donors are showing any inclination nor parents of thalassaemia patients want to resume treatment here. Parents of thalassaemia-affected children have written to the AIIMS, Bathinda, requesting them for treatment.

Notably, HIV-positive blood was transfused to three children and a woman over a period of two months here.

Many patients who have received blood here in the past over 8 to 10 months have started getting themselves tested.

President of a city-based NGO said, “Fearing their safety, donors are scared to even visit the vicinity of the Civil Hospital here where the blood bank unit is situated. Whenever we get calls for blood requirement, we further call prospective donors, but now, nobody is interested. Apart from us, there are four more NGOs in the city that are working to arrange blood for needy patients, but after this incident, things have changed.”

As per records of the blood bank unit, 92 units of blood are available which are lesser than the required volume. There has been a significant decline in blood donations. A senior functionary at the blood bank unit said, “After the incident, there is a sense of fear among both donors and those who need transfusion.”

Dr Manjit Singh, Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, said, “A probe committee constituted by the Health Department has submitted its report to the Principal Secretary and further to the Health Minister.”