[HumJanenge] RTI activists force blood bank to remain functional

Dear All,

Kindly read the article published in The Statesman (04/07/2011).

Link: http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=375297&catid=73

 

RTI activists force blood bank to remain functional

 

3 July 2011   

Shiba Nanda Basu.

KOLKATA, 3 JULY: The authorities of Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital in Kalyani were forced to keep the blood bank open and supply blood to an octogenarian yesterday after some RTI activists in Nadia district sought reply from the higher authorities why the important unit of the hospital remains closed for eight hours everyday.  Patients visiting the hospital face tough time as the only blood bank remains closed for eight hours from 2 p.m. every day due to shortage of staff.
The matter came to light when Mr Dipayan Sarkar, who admitted his mother Ms Kalyani Sarkar (80), a cardiac patient, to the hospital on 1 July and went to the blood bank unit on 2 July only to return empty-handed as he found the blood bank closed after 2 pm. Mr Sarkar informed RTI activists who brought the matter to the notice of the director of blood safety saying that according to RTI Act an applicant should receive information within 48 hours if it related to "life or liberty" of a person. The activists also wanted to know those who are responsible and why no recruitment was made though there is a shortage of employees. Following the intimation, the deputy director of blood safety, Mr Nayan Chandra, informed the matter to the joint director, Mr Ratanlal Ganguly, to resolve the crisis. Later, the hospital authorities kept the blood bank open and supplied blood to the patient.
At present there are only two technicians operating the blood bank. This made the task difficult for the hospital authorities to provide blood round-the-clock. Even relatives of patients are asked to collect blood from outside. As a result, patients who visit between 2 pm and 10 pm everyday face difficulties to get blood from the hospital blood bank.  The superintendent of the hospital, Dr Nirupam Biswas, said the blood bank remains closed from 4 pm to 10 pm in weekdays, as there is a staff shortage. He said: "It is very difficult for us to run the blood bank with only two workers. We need at least three technicians to keep the blood bank going for 24 hours." A doctor said the same problem prevails in blood banks in the other state-run hospitals in the district. He said relatives of the patients have to rush to Manicktala blood bank during emergency. Dr Nayan Chandra, deputy director of blood safety, said there is a shortage of technicians in the blood banks in the districts which made the situation difficult

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Anindya Kishor Das