Full Judgment Text
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CASE NO.:
Writ Petition (civil) 91 of 1992
PETITIONER:
Common Cause
RESPONDENT:
Union of India and Others
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/01/1996
BENCH:
S.C. Agrawal & G.B. Pattanaik
JUDGMENT:
JUDGMENT
ORDER
S.C. Agrawal
1. Blood is an essential component of the body which provides sustenance to
life. There can be no greater service to the humanity than to offer one’s
blood to save the life of other fellow human-beings. At the same time
blood, instead of saving life, cannot lead to death of the person to whom
the blood is given if the blood is contaminated. As a result of
developments in medical science it is possible to pre-serve and store blood
after it has been collected so that it can be available in the case of
need. There are blood banks which undertake the task of collecting, testing
and storage the whole blood and its components and make the same available
when needed, In view of the dangers inherent in supply of contaminated
blood it must be ensured that the blood that is available with the blood
banks for use is healthy and free from infection.
2. In this petition filed by way of Public Interest Litigation under
Article 32 of the Constitution the petitioner has high-lighted the serious
deficiencies and short-comings in the matter of collection, storage and
supply of blood through the various blood centres operating in the country
and has prayed that an appropriate writ order or direction be issued
directing the Union of India and the States and the Union Territories, who
have all been impleaded as respondents in this petition, to ensure that
proper positive and concrete steps in a time bound programme are
immediately initiated for obviating the malpractices, malfunctioning and
inadequacies of the blood banks all over the country and to place before
this Court a specific programme of action aimed at overcoming the
deficiencies in the operation of blood banks.
3. For the purpose of regulating its collection, storage and supply, blood
is treated as a ‘drug’ under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (hereinafter
p referred to as sthe Act’). In the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945
(hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules’) made under the Act, provisions
regarding equipment and supplies required for a blood bank were contained
in Part XII-B, which was inserted vide Notification dated June 24, 1967. In
the said part, requirements regarding Equipment, Blood collection supplies,
Canter equipment and Emergency equipment for the Blood Donor Room were
prescribed. Similarly provisions were made for the Laboratory, General
suppliers, Technical staff, Accommodation for Blood Bank, Label for whole
blood and Colour scheme for Label etc.
4. In 1990, M/s. A.F. Ferguson & Co., a Management Consultancy Firm, was
entrusted by the Government of India, Ministry of Health with the study of
blood banking system in the country. The scope of the said study was to :
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(i) assess the status of Government, Private, Commercial and Voluntary
blood banks ;
(ii) recommended policy and procedure changes; and
(iii) prepare a scheme for modernisation :
5. The report submitted by the said consultancy firm to the Government in
July, 1990, high-lights the deficiencies which regard to the facilities of
testing blood, licensing of blood banks and professional donors and storage
of blood. In the said report it was stated :
(i) Out of the total number of 1018 blood banks as many as 616 are reported
to be unlicensed. There are only 201 licensed commercial blood banks; the
supply of blood by licensed commercial blood banks is only about 1/4th of
the blood used in the hospitals of the country.
(ii) No medical check up is done on the blood sellers; their health status
is not examined. The blood trade flourishes with poor people like
unemployed, rickshaw pullers, drug addicts selling their blood. Such blood
sellers suffer from various infections and their haemoglobin is lower than
the prescribed level. It has been reported that there are many persons who
donate blood 5-6 times in a month; poverty makes them to do so first but
later it is reported to become like an addiction, the blood seller enjoying
the dizziness due to reduced supply.
(iii) It is a mandatory requirement to conduct tests on blood which is to
be administered to a patient or to be issued to hospitals for transfusion.
The blood so issued has to be free from AIDS, viral hepatitis, malaria,
veneral diseases etc. It is reported that mandatory tests which are
required to be done are rarely conducted. Most of the AIDS surveillance
centres are not functioning efficiently and upto 85 per cent of blood
collected in the country is not screened for AIDS. Under an action plan to
screen blood for AIDS 37 blood testing centres were to be set up in 29
cities, but only 11 testing centres were functioning by July, 1990, and
training of technicians for these centres was lagging.
(iv) The blood banks presently thrive on bleeding 4000 to 5000 regular
professional donors in 18-20 cities. The professional blood donors, which
include many women, are reported to be victims of ill health, low
haemoglobin levels and many infections, and are bled at frequent intervals
by the commercial blood banks:
(v) Storage facilities in the blood banks are far from satisfactory. The
blood banks have necessarily to possess facilities like refrigerators
exclusively for storage of blood with a specified range of temperature, for
ensuring safety of blood. In the existing blood banks many items of
equipment remain unattended for years, electricity failures are frequent,
generators are a rarity. This applies not only to commercial blood banks
but even to some of the government hospitals. Many items of the basic
equipment needed for blood banks are not available and a good part of them
do not have even adequate storage facilities.
(vi) Many of the blood banks are located in unhygenic environment and they
collect and store blood in very dirty conditions.
(vii) In some places strong middle men operate for the blood banks E by
arranging for donors. The middle men dictate the charges to be paid and
take a heavy commission; the selection of donors disregards the level of
health etc.
(viii) A large part of the professional donors are alcoholics or drug
abusers, have indiscriminate sexual habits and are a high risk group for
Hepatitis B and AIDS and are unfit to donate blood.
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(ix) Trained personnel are generally not available in the blood banks. Most
of the blood banks lack trained post-graduates at the helm; they have no
donor organisers to bring voluntary donors; and many of them are manned by
technical staff who do not have requisite qualification of a diploma in
Medical Laboratory Technology. At present there is not even a course to
provide postgraduate specialisation in the field of blood donation and
transfusion as in developed countries. The Drug Control departments, which
are expected to ensure the appropriate functioning of the blood banks, do
not themselves have specified trained personnel.
(x) In the storage of blood the basic and essential requirements of clean
environment, shelf life of blood etc. are ignored, Nexus is reported to be
existing between the attending doctor of the patient and the commercial
blood bank, with the former directing the patients to the latter, and the
latter giving a percentage of the sale to the former.
6. According to the report of M/s. A.F. Ferguson & Co. out of the total
number of 1018 blood banks in the country, 203 are commercial blood banks
and the rest are controlled by the Central Government, State Governments,
Private Hospitals and voluntary organisations. The volume of the blood
collected by the commercial blood banks is 4.7 lakhs units out of the total
of 19.5 lakhs unit by all blood banks and that commercial blood banks are
collecting blood mostly from professional donors while the other blood
banks under the control of the State Governments, Central Government,
Private organisations and voluntary organisations are-collecting blood
mostly from the relatives of the patients or from the voluntary donors.
7. In the counter affidavit filed by Dr. Lalgudi Vaidyanathan Kannan,
Deputy Drugs Controller, on behalf of the Union of India it is stated that
after the receipt of the report of M/s. Ferguson & Co., the Drugs
controller, India, by his letter dated August 23, 1990 asked all the State
Drug Controllers (who are the licensing and enforcing authorities under the
Act) to ensure that inspections are carried out of all commercial blood
banks and unlicensed Government blood banks keeping in view the standards
prescribed in the Act and rules and a phased programme of inspection
covering first the commercial/private blood banks and thereafter the
Government blood banks was suggested. It was also suggested that the
private/commercial blood banks should not be allowed to operate unless they
fulfill all the requirements prescribed in the Rules and each unit of blood
is tested for blood transmissible diseases (Hepatitis, HIV, Syphilis etc.)
and that unlicensed blood banks are to be licensed only after ascertaining
that they conform to the standards laid down under the Rules. It was also
suggested to the State Governments that the licences of blood banks who do
not comply with the provisions of the Rules should be cancelled and the
State Drug Controllers were asked to send the status reports of blood banks
in their respective States. As per the information forwarded by 23 State
Governments/Union Territories, about 341 blood banks are unlicensed and
most of them are run by Red Cross Societies and Charitable institutions. In
the said counter affidavit mention is also made of the steps that have been
taken in the matter of testing of blood for AIDS, storage facilities in
blood banks, for upgradation and modernisation of Government managed blood
banks, and training of drugs inspectors and blood bank technical personnel.
8. During the pendency of this writ petition, action has also been taken to
revise the Rules governing the licensing and operation of the blood banks
and by the Drugs and Cosmetics (First Amendment) Rules, 1982 published in
the Gazette of India vide notification dated January 22, 1993. Part X-B has
been inserted in the Rules and Part XII-B has been substituted. In part X-B
(Rules 122-F to 122-0 provisions have been made prescribing the
requirements for collection, storage, processing and distribution of whole
human blood, human blood components by blood banks and manufacture of blood
products and for grant and for renewal of licence for the operation of a
blood bank/processing of human blood for components/manufacture blood
products. Under the said provisions licence can only be granted/renewed
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with the approval of the Central Licence approving Authority viz. the Drugs
Controller of India. Part XII-B contains provisions relating to space
equipment and supplies required for a Blood Bank.
9. During the course of the hearing of this petition, the petitioner
submitted a draft scheme and a scheme was also submitted by the Union of
India, In the affidavit filed by Dr. Shiv Lal, Addl. Director, National
Aids Control Organisation, along with the scheme, it was stated that the
Central Council of Health, in which the State Health ministers are members,
is the highest Forum for Policy frame work and that the said Council has
given guidelines in respect of Blood Bank and Transfusion Service and its
recommendations are as under :
Blood being a vital input in the present day medicare services the acute
shortage of which is hampering the effectiveness of our services the joint
Conference recommends that urgent steps should be taken by the State/Union
Territories Governments and the Central Government. -
1. To build up adequate blood banking services at State/District level
including provision of trained/qualified man power. Necessary action should
be initiated in right earnest for achieving the objective in view.
2. To educate and motivate people about blood donation on a voluntary
basis.
3. To provide adequate encouragement to voluntary donors.
4. To enforce quality control of blood in all its facets of collection,
distribution and storage.
In the said affidavit it was also stated that although the World Health
Organisation has prescribed that nearly 40 lakhs units of blood is required
for the country, the collection is only 19.5 lakhs units at present and,
therefore, it is not possible to ban professional donors at this stage
unless the donations of blood by way of voluntary donation are increased.
In the said affidavit it was further stated that most of the Government
Blood Banks are lacking in man power, training and laboratory facilities to
test blood for blood transmissible diseases and to augment this, the
Central Government has provided funds to various State Government during
1990-91 and 1991-92 to modernise the Government Blood Banks. According to
the said affidavit, the main objective for the modernisation of the Blood
Banks have been provided into long term objectives and medium terms
objectives as under :
I. Long term objectives :
(a) Make available high quality blood and blood components in adequate
quantity to all users.
(b) Ensure wide usage of blood components.
(c) Expand voluntary and replacement donor base, so as to phase out
professional blood donors.
II. Medium term objectives :
(a) To provide minimum possible facilities for blood collections, storage
and testing in all government Blood Banks.
(b) To make available the trained man-power in all government Blood banks.
(c) To ensure the awareness of clinicians and Blood Banks staff on the
advantages of blood components.
(d) To ensure the effective geographical coverage keeping in mind the
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different volumes of blood requirement in different cities.
(e) To increase public awareness about the risks in using blood from
commercial Blood Banks and professional donors and the harmlessness of
blood donation.
10. On a perusal of the Draft scheme that was submitted by the petitioner
and the draft scheme submitted by the Union of India, it was felt that it
would facilitate matters if the question of necessary steps which may be
required for further strengthening the existing frame-work about licensing
of blood banks and obtaining blood donations is examined by a Committee
which would place its suggestions before the Court for consideration. By
order dated 11th February, 1994 a Committee of the following persons was
constituted to examine the matter and submit its report :
1. Additional Secretary. Ministry of Health holding the charge of Director,
National Aids Control Organisation as Chairman.
2. Drugs Controller of India.
3. Mr. H.D. Shourie.
The said Committee felt that since Indian Red Cross Society is presently
involved to a considerable extent in blood banking operations and it has
branches spread all over the country and it has capacity to further
strengthen itself for looking after the various aspects of functioning of
blood banks, it may be recognised as a nodal agency in the field of blood
banking and blood transfusion technology in the country. The Committee
suggested that detailed discussions to finalise assessment in this regard
may be held with the Indian Red Cross Society. Having regard to the said
suggestions by the Committee constituted by the Court, the Indian Red Cross
Society constituted a committee of experts to examine the matter and to
prepare a draft blue print. The said committee of experts in this report
dated April 15, 1995 has indicated the following fields in which measures
are required to be taken:
1. Building a powerful voluntary blood donation movement to augment
supplies of safe quality blood and blood components.
2. Exercising economy by processing whole blood for blood components.
3. Introducing screening procedure to minimize the danger of transmissible
diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis etc.
4. Standardize technological procedures for rigid enforcement of quality
control, and good manufacturing practices.
5. Providing technical services-for raising the standard of Blood centre
operations and assistance for administrative, motivational and technical
problems encountered.
It has proposed an action plan-in three parts: Immediate Plan, short Term
Plan and Long Term Plan, which are as follows :
Immediate Plan
1. To establish an administrative unit at the national headquarters under
the charge of a project director.
2. To identify and strengthen a minimum of 2 Red Cross blood centres for
each state for augmenting the existing blood programme. Necessary inputs
towards staff, equipment and consumables for the development should be made
available at once. Basic requirements to procure accreditation from DC(I)
should be ensured.
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3. Donor recruitment and intensification of donor motivation drive may be
taken up on priority basis. Involvement of media may be ensured through
Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
4. A crash programme for short term training of medical officers,
technicians and medical social workers nurses of concerned centers may be
undertaken. This distance learning programme prepared by the WHO may be
helpful in updating the knowledge of technologists at the centres being
strengthened.
5. In addition to the blood centre strengthening programme, steps may be
taken for planning and initiating action for the establishment of Regional
blood centres at the following 16 metropolitan cities with 2 million
population having many large medical superspeciality institutions.
1. Delhi 9. Bhopal
2. Luckanow 10. Ahinedabad
3. Patna 11. Bombay
4. Calcutta 12. Hyderabad
5. Gauhati 13. Bangalore
6. Cuttack 14. Trivandrum
7. Nagpur 15. Madras
8. Jaipur 16. Chandigarh
Each centre will be expected to collect 150 to 200,000 units annually.
These will be screened processed and distributed as blood components to
local hospital based centres against service charges. As the regional
centres will supplement the blood supplies through the existing systems it
would help in weeding out the blood supply from paid blood sellers.
Therefore it is of paramount importance that top priority is given for the
establishment of these centres.
Short Term Plan :
1. Coordination of the blood programme of large medical colleges having
more than 1000 beds and or collecting over 10,000 units.
2. Establishment of post graduate training centres at places where
facilities for fulfilling the norms of the Medical Council of India exist.
In the initial stages Faculty support can be obtained from departments of
pathology. At the following cities post graduate training can be started :
1. Chandigarh 6. Bombay
2. Delhi 7. Hyderabad
3. Lucknow 8. Bangalore
4. Calcutta 9. Trivendrum
5. Jaipur 10. Madras
Training of paramedical workers can also be undertaken at these centres.
3. Coordination of all other voluntary organisations working for the
promotion of the blood programme by the Red Cross society would further
help in achieving the target of donor recruitment with greater vigour and
better evaluation.
4. A national workshop at the Red Cross headquarters may be organised for
officers of all centres being strengthened and the representatives of
regional centres to provide necessary guidance for uniform and standardised
policies and practices.
Long Term Plan :
1. To upgrade all other blood centres.
2. Establishment and upgradation of blood centres in areas where it does
not exist.
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3. Planning of more regional centres.
4. Establishing fractionation centres.
5. Establishment of therapeutic centres for blood related disorders.
6. Programmes for indegenisation of equipped software and reagents.
7. Establishment of tissue typing facilities for Bone Marrow and organ
transplant.
After considering the said report of the Committee of experts set up by the
Indian Red Cross Society, the Committee constituted by the Court submitted
its final report which was filed along with the affidavit of Shri Ashwani
Kumar, Deputy Drugs Controller of India in the Directorate General of
Health Services dated October 26, 1995. The Committee has made the
following recommendations and has suggested steps for revamping the system
of blood banks in the country in the form of plans for implementation on
immediate basis and for long term implementation.
FOR IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION :
(i) A National Council on Blood Transfusion should be established. It
should consist of Director General of health services. Drug Controller of
India, representative of Ministry of Finance, high-level representatives of
Indian Red Cross Society and selected five major medical and health
institutions of the country, and three eminent citizens, presided over by
the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health who is incharge of
operations of the programme of National Aids Control Organisation. The
Council should be provided the basic secretariat under charge of a Director
by the Ministry of Health and be located in suitable premises at Delhi for
effective functioning.
It would be desirable to register the Council as a Society under the
Societies Registration Act for enabling it to have its own identity and
funds and also for enabling it to raise funds from various sources
including contributions from trade, industry and individuals. The basic
requirements of its functioning should be provided by the Ministry of
Health. The Council will be policy formulating body in relation to all
matters pertaining to operation of blood banks.
(ii) The Ministry of Health, with the assistance of National Council, will
ensure the establishment of State Level councils, at suitable centres
preferably head-quartered at the premises of some outstanding medical
institutions or hospitals. The State Councils should have on them
representatives of important medical institutions of the State, selected
representatives of blood banks of repute, a representative of Red Cross,
and should include the State Director of Health Services as well as State
Drug Controller operating under a designated Director and presided over
preferably by the State Government Secretary incharge of health. A
representative of the State Ministry of finance should also preferably be
on the Council. The size of State Council should preferably be restricted
to the maximum of about 11 members. The Director of Health Services should
provide the Committee the basic essentials of secretariat and funds for its
functioning. The State Councils, as in the case of National Council, should
be registered as Society under the Societies Registration Act for
maintaining their identity and for purposes of collection of funds in the
shape of contributions from individual and corporate bodies. The State
Councils should endeavour to operate on the basis of policies formulated by
the National Council, effectively implementing the policies and programmes
formulated by them.
(iii) Programmes and activities of the National Council and State Councils
should cover the entire range of services related to operation and
requirements of blood banks including the launching of effective motivation
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campaigns through utilisation of all media for stimulating voluntary blood
donations, launching programmes of blood donation in educational
institutions, among the labour, industry and trade, establishments and
organisations of various services including civic bodies, training of
personnel in relation to all operations of blood collection., storage and
utilisation transport, quality control and archiving system, cross-matching
of blood between donors and recipients, separation and storage of component
of blood, and all the basis essentials of the operations of blood banking.
LONG TERM OBJECTIVES :
(i) The programme formulation at the national level and State levels should
take into account the requirements of laying down targets for achievement,
including the establishment of appropriately designed and equipped blood
banks, ensuring that all blood banks are licensed, making satisfactory
arrangements for collection and storage of collected blood,
fractionalisation of blood into the components, Special emphasis will need
to be laid in the programme on the attainment of prescribed targets of
organising camps for voluntary collection of blood through motivational
campaigns and utilisation of the media. The State Councils shall submit
their programmes and targets to the National Council and thereafter
continue to submit quarterly reports to the Central Council about the
fulfilment of the targets relating to the programmes.
(ii) The National Council and State Councils should launch effective
programmes and organise campaigns for collecting funds for implementation
of their programmes, supplementing the funds allotted to them respectively
by the Government of India and the State Governments. For the purpose of
facilitating the collection of funds for blood banking purposes the
Government of India in the Ministry of Finance should, at the earliest, be
approached by the Ministry of Health to secure special dispensation Under
Section 35 of the Income Tax Act, making it possible to grant exemption of
100 per cent basis to the donations given to registered and authorised
National Council and State Councils. The fulfillment of this objective
should be specifically reported by the Ministry of Health to the Hon’ble
Supreme Court. The National Council and State Councils should also utilise
opportunities which may be available for securing financial sanction and
other support to their blood banking programmes from International sources
and other donor agencies.
(iii) The Ministry of Health should follow up the recommendations made by
the Expert committee set up by the Indian Red Cross Society to start M.D.
Course in blood transfusion technology, and to also undertake the
preparation of comprehensive programme for training of personnel operating
in relation to various aspects of functioning of blood banks, storage of
blood, fractionalisation of blood, and transfusion of blood.
(iv) The System of licensing of blood banks will be strengthened to ensure
that all quality banks operating in the country are equipped with licenses
within a period of not more than one year. Whether any blood banks remain
ill-equipped for being licensed, and remain unlicensed after the expiry of
the period of one year, their operations should be rendered impossible
through suitable action under appropriate legislation. It shall be a policy
objective of the Ministry of Health as well as the National Council and the
State Councils established on the basis of these recommendations that the
prevalent system of professional donors is discouraged through utilisation
of all appropriate media, through withdrawal of licenses where any such
blood bank has been licensed, and by launching prosecutions under the
appropriate provisions of law. The objective of total elimination of
professional donors should be achieved in at period of not more than two
years through utilisation of all requisite measures. For attainment of
objectives & programmes of the local organisations, the State Govt. will be
approached for providing the requisite Inspectorate for continuing
inspection of blood banks.
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11. The Committee has taken note of the programme for preventing infection
and strengthening of Blood Banking system in the country that is being
implemented by the National Aids Control Organisation, which is annexed as
Annexure-I to the report of the Committee.
12. The Indian Association of Blood Banks has been impleaded as a party in
these proceedings and an affidavit of Dr. V. B. Lal, President of the said
association, has been filed.
13. We have heard Shri H.D. Shourie, the petitioner in person. Shri A.S.
Nambiar, the learned Senior Counsel for the Union of India, Shri P.P Rao,
learned Senior Counsel for the Indian Association of Blood Banks Dr. V.
Gauri Shankar, learned Senior Counsel for the Indian Red Cross Society and
the learned Counsel appearing for the States. Keeping in view the report of
the Committee that has been constituted by this Court and the report of the
Committee of Experts set up by the Indian Red Cross Society and the
programme that is being implemented by the National Aids Control
Organisation as well as the submissions of the learned Counsel, we are of
the view that suitable action should be taken by the Union Government as
well as the Governments of the States and the Union Territories
Administration in accordance with the plan for immediate implementation as
well as the plan for Long Term implementation suggested by the Committee
constituted by this Court.
14. It is no doubt true that after the report of M/s. A.F. Ferguson & Co.
the Union Government has taken certain steps towards improving the state of
affairs regarding the blood banks in the country and the National Aids
Control organisation is also working in this field. But a lot more is
required to done as would be evident from the reports to the Committee
constituted by this Court and the Committee of Experts appointed by the
Indian Red Cross Society. The Committee constituted by this Court has made
concrete suggestions in this regard. We are in agreement with the
recommendations of the said committee that the entire range of schemes
related to operation and requirements of blood banks including the
launching of effective motivation campaigns for stimulating voluntary blood
donations, launching programmes of blood donations training of personnel in
relation to all operations of blood banking should be entrusted to an
autonomous representative body at the national level which may be called
the National Council on Blood Transfusion, as suggested by the Committee.
The National Council would exercise the functions entrusted to it in
coordination with similar bodies established at State level which may be
called State Councils. In order that they may have their own individuality
and funds and are able to raise funds from various sources including of
contributions from trade, industry and individuals the National Council and
the State Councils should be constituted as societies registered under the
Societies Registration Act. The National Council and the State Councils
should undertake the measures suggested by the Committee constituted by the
Court as well as the Committee of experts appointed by the Indian Red Cross
Society and while doing so they should coordinate their activities with
those of the National Aids Control Organisation and other agencies in this
field. Keeping in view the potentialities of the harm in the prevailing
state of affairs and the need for speedy action in this regard, we consider
it appropriate to give the following directions ;
1. The Union Government shall take steps to establish forthwith a National
Council of Blood Transfusion as a society registered under the Societies
Registration Act. It would be a representative body having in it
representation from the Directorate General of Health Services of the
Government of India, the Drug Controller of India, Ministry of Finance in
the Government of India, Indian Red Cross Society, private blood banks
including the Indian Association of the Blood Banks, major medical and
health institutions of the country and non-Government organisations active
in the field of securing voluntary blood donations. In order to ensure
coordination with the activities of the National Aids Control Organisation,
the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Health, who is incharge of the
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operations of the programme of National Aids, Control Organisation for
strengthening the blood banking system could be the President of the
National Council.
2. The National Council shall have a secretariat at Delhi under the charge
of a Director.
3. The basic requirements of the funds for the functioning of the National
Council shall be provided by the Government of India but the National
Council shall be empowered to raise funds from various other sources
including contributions from trade, industry and individuals.
4. In consultation with the National Council, the State Governments/ Union
Territory administration shall establish a State Council in each State/
Union Territory which shall be registered as a society under the Societies
Registration Act. The State Council should be a representative body having
in it representation from Directorate of Health Services in the State,
State Drug Controller, Department of Finance of the State Government/Union
Territory Administration, important medical institutions in the State/Union
p Territory, Indian Red Cross Society, private blood banks, Non-
Governmental Organisations active in the field of securing voluntary blood
donations. The Secretary to the Government in charge of the Department of
Health could be the President of the State Council.
5. The State Council should have its headquarters at the premises of the
premier medical institution or hospital in the State/Union Territory and
should function under the charge of a Director.
6. The funds for the State Council shall be provided by the Union of India
as well as the State Government/Union Territory Administration. The State
Council shall also be empowered to collect funds in shape of contributions
from trade, industry and individuals.
7. The programmes and activities of the National Council and the State
Councils shall cover the entire range of services related to operation and
requirements of blood banks including the launching of effective motivation
campaigns through utilisation of all media for stimulating voluntary blood
donations, launching programmes of blood donation in educational
institutions, among the labour, industry and trade, establishments and
organisations of various services including civic bodies, training of
personnel in relation to all operations of blood collection, storage and
utilisation, separation of blood groups, proper labelling, proper storage
and transport, quality control and archiving system, cross-matching of
blood between donors and recipients, separation and storage of components
of blood, and all the basic essentials of the operations of blood banking.
8. The National Council shall undertake training programmes for training of
technical personnel in various fields connected with the operation of blood
banks.
9. The National Council shall establish an institution for conducting
research in collection, processing, storage, distribution and transfusion
of whole human blood and human blood components, manufacture of blood
products and other allied fields.
10. The National Council shall take steps for starting special postgraduate
courses in blood collection, processing, storage and transfusion and allied
fields in various medical colleges and institutions in the country.
11. In order to facilitate the collection of funds for the National Council
and the State Councils, the Government of India (Ministry of Health and
Ministry of Finance) should find out ways and means to secure grant of 100%
exemption from income tax to the donor in respect of donations made to the
National Council and the State Councils.
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12. The Union Government and the Governments of the States and Union
Territories should ensure that within a period of not more than one year
all blood banks operating in the country are duly licensed and if a blood
bank is found ill equipped for being licensed, and remains unlicensed after
the expiry of the period of one year, its operations should be rendered
impossible through suitable legal action.
13. The Union Government and the Governments of the States and Union
Territories shall take steps to discourage the prevalent system of
professional donors so that the system of professional donors is completely
eliminated within a period of not more than two years.
14. The existing machinery for the enforcement of the provisions of the Act
and the Rules should be strengthened and suitable action be taken in that
regard on the basis of the Scheme submitted by the Drugs Controller (I) to
the Union Government for upgradation of the Drugs Control Organisation in
the Centre and the States (Annexure - II to the affidavit of Shri R.
Narayansawami, Assistant Drug Controller, dated September 16, 1994.)
15. Necessary steps be taken to ensure that Drugs Inspectors duly trained
in blood banking operations are posted in adequate numbers so as to ensure
periodical checking of the operations of the blood banks throughout the
country.
16. The Union Government should consider the advisability of enacting a
separate legislation for regulating the collection, processing, storage,
distribution and transportation of blood and the operation of the blood
banks in the country.
17. The Director General of Health Services in the Government of India,
Ministry of Health shall submit a report by July 15, 1996 about the action
taken in pursuance of these directions.
18. It will be open to the Director General of Health Services, Government
of India as well as the National Council to seek clarification/modification
of these directions or further directions in this matter.
15. The writ petition is disposed with these directions. No order as to
costs.