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Centre Plans Authority To Regulate
Collection, Storage Of Blood
The Central government is planning to create a regulatory
framework called Blood Transfusion Authority on the lines of FDA to monitor
various aspects like blood collection, storage and distribution. A suitable
legislation to bring this activity under the regulatory umbrella is being
prepared in this regard.
The move is to put in place a foolproof mechanism with world
standards in a couple of years from now to monitor and regulate the spectrum of
blood transfusion services so that the diseases transmissible from blood like
HIV and Hepatitis B could be brought down, sources said.
Faced with the issues of volume, access and quality of blood,
the Centre is also initiating steps to establish four model centres of
excellence in the four metros. Each will have a capacity to collect and process
one lakh units of blood annually.
There is a regulatory framework already in place in the
country and blood transfusion councils are existing at the State levels. But the
creation of an authority at the Central level would streamline the entire gamut
of transfusion services, besides easing the burden on the DCGI, which is now,
has the responsibility as the regulatory body. The new authority would be an
autonomous body under the Health Ministry, sources said.
Though there are plenty of collection centres in the private
sector, country is still short of at least three million units of blood every
year. Currently, there is collection of five million units per year. The new
authority would bring in uniformity in collection, storage and distribution of
blood. As per the current rules, the safety of blood transfusion is looked after
by the National AIDS Control Organisation and there are state Blood Transfusion
Services at the State levels.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz Dated July 12, 2007)
GE Healthcare's Ultrasound Technology 'LOGIQ
e' Installed At 100 Centres In India
GE Healthcare's advanced compact ultrasound technology 'LOGIQ
e' is installed in 100 centres across the country including Apollo Hospital,
Hyderabad and Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai.
It has proved to be an indispensable diagnostic tool at
emergencies and sporting events, ever since its launch worldwide and in India in
September 2006.
Among the 100 installations in the country, are also
diagnostic centres and individual specialists clinics. Apart from emergency
medicine, installations in ambulances and sports medicine, 'LOGIQ e' is
much-sought after in anaesthesia delivery because of its proven accurate
release. The ultrasound technology is also used during breast surgery, vascular
surgery and musculoskeletal imaging.
Sports medicine is helping the athletes to achieve optimum
performances and this challenge makes sports physicians to equip themselves with
advanced technology like medical imaging. In India, sports medicine is an
emerging trend and we are sure that healthcare providers would eventually
insist on this technology at the events, stated S Ganesh Prasad, vice president,
clinical systems GE Healthcare, South Asia.
(Ref: The Chronicle Pharmabiz Dated July 12, 2007)
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