Mumbai: Major 'Commercial Blood' Racket Exposed:

[Guest guest]

Major Commercial Blood Racket Exposed:

Peoples Health Organisation (India) {PHO}; which has been championing the fight

against AIDS since 1985 and single-handedly fought legal battle for blood safety

since 1989, condemns the 'Bloody Scandal' in the city blood banks using

commercial blood donors despite legal ban since 1998. The easiest thing to

achieve in HIV prevention and Control - the blood safety, took more than 12

years in India after first HIV infections were detected and 9 years after PHO

filed a public interest litifgation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court in 1989.

Though blood safety has contributed significantly in HIV prevention, where by,

the mode of HIV transmission through blood among HIV cases in India is down < 2%

now from 10% before 1998, the current case involving Ambika and Ambaji

commercial Blood Banks is cause for concern.

HIV/AIDS through BLOOD AND ORGAN DONORS: India's first HIV positive blood donor

was detected in July 1987, in Tamil Nadu followed by some cases in Maharashtra

in 1988. Professional Blood Donors (Blood Sellers) meet 30% of supply and

remaining 70% voluntary and replacement Donors. Blood sellers are vulnerable to

several infections as they frequest sex workers and use drugs

more often than others, so they pose threat to the blood safety.

They also tend to donate frequently at different centers and under different

names. Nearly 40% of blood is used for unwanted single-bottle transfusions.

Hence in the blood business there was a lot of 'bloody business' and abuse of

blood. Until 1997, nearly 50% of the blood transactions occurred through clinics

or nursing homes and not blood banks.

After PHO's PIL in 1989, the Maharashtra Government had closed several private

blood banks in Mumbai and suspended manufacture of all blood products in India

in 1989, when 70% of them were found to be HIV tainted due to contamination in

the manufacture process.

The blood sellers are also potential organ (kidney, eye, skin etc.)

sellers. Major kidney trade between India, Middle East and Europe, with express

involvement of medical establishments were also exposed by PHO.

In 1998, the Supreme Court of India had ordered Blood Safety that resulted in

the operation 'clean-up' of the Blood Banks by NACO by equipping centers and

training staff. There are nearly 22 blood borne infections that are transmitted

through contaminated blood of which only 5 are screened routinely - HIV,

Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and Malaria.

PHO may start India chapter of the US-based 'Safe Blood Foundation'.

PHO Reccomendations on Blood Safety: With the longest experience in HIV/AIDS in

India, understanding the demand for blood and human organs and knowing fully the

limitations, the PHO devised the following multi-prong strategy for blood safety

and to halt human organ trade:

a) Appeal to doctors and hospitals: To use only HIV-screened blood; to use blood

judiciously - only when it is really indicated, preferably use fractions

(Plasma, Platelets or Red cells) than whole blood and avoid its

commercialisation and follow the highest standards of Medical Ethics.

Urge the Government: To strictly ban the trade in Blood and Organs making it

a severely punishable crime; to make universal blood safety as a pre-requisite

for starting/running blood banks; to provide guidelines to blood banks,

hospitals and doctors on Blood/Organ Safety; to make cadaver transplants

feasible and realistic; to review blood testing guidelines and to rehabilitate

blood sellers

c) Dissuade Blood Sellers: From selling their blood & organs through moral,

philosophical and religious teachings; using strict deterrent Laws and thorough

implementation

d) Appeal to people: To increase Voluntary Blood Donation - on birthday,

marriage anniversary; to use autologous (using one's own blood) blood

transfusion in planned surgery; to tactfully question doctors' prescription for

blood and not to buy blood/organ, for their own safety.

Dr. I.S.Gilada, Secretary General, PHO: 022- 23061616; 9820081566

Peoples Health Organisation (India)

Municipal School Building, JJ Hospital Compd, Mumbai-400008;

Tel.(22)-23719020; Fax: 23864433; E-mail: ihoaids@...

PRESS RELEASE/ Blood and AIDS. April 30, 2005