In the recently concluded CME held at Science City, Kolkata on Doctors Day the Federation of Blood Donor Organization of India, Kolkata has awarded Dr Surinder Singh, Director, NIB and Akanksha Bisht, Member Secretary – Haemovigilance Programme of India & Scientific Assistant ,Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India with Dr BC Roy Memorial Award-2014 for excellent contribution towards blood safety programme in India.
Haemovigilance is a set of surveillance procedures covering the whole transfusion chain from the collection of blood and its components to the follow-up of its recipients. It is an important tool for improving safe blood transfusion practices in a country. The Haemovigilance Programme of India (HvPI) was launched December 10, 2012 in the country. The National Coordinating Centre of this programme is at National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), Noida, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission is providing financial assistance for this programme under Pharmacovigilance Programme of India.
At present 154 centres (Medical colleges (Government and private), institutions, hospitals (Government and private) and blood banks) are enrolled under this programme. An indigenous software, ‘Haemo-vigil’ has been developed by software development team of NIB & IPC for collecting and collating transfusion reaction data from the enrolled centres. Further, 15 CMEs have been organised since April-2013 in medical institutions / organisations in various parts of the country to create awareness amongst healthcare professionals and stake holders about importance of safe blood transfusion practices.
Haemovigilance programme of India will benefit public health system by assuring donor and recipient safety, promote safe blood transfusion and blood product administration practices and assure overseas patients seeking medical interventions in India about safe blood transfusion practices.
EP News Bureau– Mumbai
