Safer Blood - Query

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I am in the business of blood safety. We market NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) for

HIV, Hepatitis B & C for blood screening. I need help, guidance and advice.

My brother has Hep C which he got from blood transfusions in 1981. He is

undergoing Interferon Therapy. I have another friend who has just recovered from

Hep C. I know in my family and friends circle, others who have got Hep B or C

from Blood....many of whom have died. Most of these could have been saved if the

blood was tested with any technology (not necessarily NAT).

In a multi-centre study conducted in India, it was found that 1 in 1528 units of

blood may still be infected after being cleared by serological () tests.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi has been testing all their blood with NAT

since April 2006, and their yield is about 1 in 2500.

Every week there is some story about HIV infections through Blood. Whether it is

West Bengal or Kerala, AIIMS or Safdurjung. Most Hepatitis infections go

undetected for years because they are asymptomatic. Many court cases are eithe

ongoing or have happened, where a victim has sued a hospital or blood bank for

infections from Blood Transfusion. These include, AIIMS, Safdurjung, KEM Mumbai,

Breach Candy Mumbai, Apollo Delhi, Escorts Delhi, PGI Chandigarh etc..

What is the solution? Is blood safety not a priority. Is prevention not

important. Is saving a few thousand infections a year irrelevant. Even if the

victims are thallessemics, children or innocent patients. Who makes policy?

The blood safety norms in India today are due to a PIL in the Supreme Court.

NACO is incharge - why should an organization created for HIV prevention be

responsible for Blood Safety. Blood Safety involves many other issues apart from

HIV - Hepatitis, bacteria, Antibodies, Optimum Use, Components etc. etc.

Do we need to wait for more legal action before India wakes up. Canada is paying

Billions for Hepatitis C spread through Blood.

Anyway, my approach is that prevention is the first priority. Blood safety must

be given the importance it deserves. Yes, we are not a rich country. We need to

decide on appropriate strategies to economically justify blood safety. What is

the cost of treating an HIV or hepatitis infection? What are the other costs in

terms of emotional and social pain and scarring? Would any of us accept

infections through blood if it were our family.

I am focusing on the private sector " Corporate Hospitals " where economics and

safety cannot be compared. Even here it is an uphill task as there is a

perception in everybody's mind that Blood should be free or subsidized. The

Government is even talking about bringing a draconian law, that permission will

be required to do anything more than the mandated tests.

NAT reduces Window Period. It is used not only in the developed countries but in

South

Africa, Thailand and now even Malaysia, Indonesia etc.

I have met NACO, Health Ministers (Assam, WB, Kerala), and many other people

in the Government. Unfortunately Dr. Ramadoss, Sujata Rao and others don't have

the time to meet (or have passed it to someone below them to discuss).

Everyone appreciates the need for Blood Safety. Great. I wish appreciation could

save a few lives.

DO I need to go the media and do a " Coke " ? Do I need a PIL? Should I wait till

some court awards an obscene sum of money to a victim of a TTI?

What do I do to ensure that everyone in this country has a choice? At least I

want it for my friends and family. Don't you?

And I am sorry if I don't agree with the approach - For all or none. If you

can't do it for all at least let some people be given a choice to live. Thanks

for bearing with me.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Regards,

Sumit Bagaria

President

Hemogenomics Pvt. Ltd.

e-mail: sumit_bagaria@... , bagarias@...

+91 9845042005