The Jharkhand High Court severely reprimanded the State Health Department over the incident of transfusing HIV-infected blood to children. The court questioned how blood banks are operating without licenses and why hospitals lack the NAT system.
Jamshedpur: The case of HIV-infected blood being transfused to Thalassemia-affected children in Jharkhand has shaken the entire state. The Jharkhand High Court has severely reprimanded the State Health Department for this serious negligence. The court asked how blood banks are operating without licenses in the state and why the essential NAT test system, mandated by safety standards, has not yet been implemented in hospitals.
High Court Expresses Strong Displeasure
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar took suo motu cognizance of the matter and heard it on Thursday. The court stated that transfusing infected blood to children is not merely negligence on the part of the Health Department, but a serious crime against humanity. The court questioned what the department's monitoring system was doing when blood banks were operating without licenses.
The bench also stated that the Health Department must explain how these blood banks have been operating for years without renewal. The court has sought a detailed report from the government, clarifying how many blood banks in the state are licensed and how many are operating without licenses.
Questions Raised Over Lack of NAT Test System
The court specifically expressed concern over the unavailability of the NAT (Nucleic Acid Test) system. This test is mandatory for identifying infections like HIV, Hepatitis B, and C in blood. The court stated that in the absence of this test, patients' lives are being endangered, which is extremely worrying.
The bench directed the state government to prepare a concrete action plan for installing NAT machines in all blood banks. Additionally, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be formulated as soon as possible to effectively implement the National Blood Policy (NBP).
Court Demands Detailed Report
The court has ordered the state government to submit a complete affidavit detailing the availability of blood in blood donation camps and hospitals. The court also stated that the blood bank renewal process, pending for two years, should be completed immediately.
During the hearing, the court orally remarked that when blood is being sold for money, it is wrong from both an ethical and legal standpoint. The court emphasized the need for swift action to curb such practices.
Government Clarifies on Blood Bank Issue
On behalf of the state government, Advocate Rajiv Ranjan stated that the government is preparing a new policy regarding blood donation camps, and NAT machines will be installed in all districts. He added that a draft SOP is being prepared in this regard to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
During the hearing, Health Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh and State Drug Controller Ritu Sahay were personally present. The court issued a strict warning to both officials, stating that if improvements are not made, individual responsibility will be fixed.
