Context:
The Government of India is planning to integrate a Rare Blood Donor Registry with the existing e-Rakt Kosh platform, aiming to streamline rare blood transfusion services and enhance access to life-saving resources across the country.
Key Highlights
- The integration aims to create a centralized digital repository of individuals with rare blood groups, accessible to hospitals, blood banks, and emergency services.
- The e-Rakt Kosh portal, managed by the National Health Mission under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, already tracks blood stock levels and donor availability.
- The rare blood donor registry will help match patients needing rare phenotypes (like Bombay blood group) with registered donors nationwide.
- The initiative is particularly significant for patients with hematological disorders, multiple transfusion needs, or those undergoing organ transplants.
What are Rare Blood Groups?
- Blood groups that are less than 1 in 1000 in a given population are termed rare.
- Examples: Bombay blood group (hh phenotype), Rh null, Kell-negative, and Duffy-negative blood types.
- Patients requiring these groups often face critical delays or failures in finding compatible donors.
Benefits of the Integration
- Faster response in emergency transfusion cases.
- Improved inter-state coordination of rare blood availability.
- Support for bone marrow transplant units, oncology hospitals, and rare disease treatment centers.
- Strengthens digital health infrastructure under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Relevance for UPSC
Prelims:
- e-Rakt Kosh portal
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Bombay blood group
- National Blood Policy, 2007
Mains (GS Paper 2 & 3):
- Public health infrastructure and digital health
- Use of ICT in healthcare delivery
- Blood donation and voluntary health participation
- Ethical challenges in organ and blood donation
Sample MCQ
Q. The integration of India’s Rare Blood Donor Registry with the e-Rakt Kosh platform is primarily aimed at:
A. Reducing the cost of organ transplantation
B. Eliminating all blood-borne diseases
C. Streamlining access to rare blood types for transfusion
D. Preventing black marketing of plasma during pandemics
Answer: C
Explanation:
The integration is designed to centralize data and ease access to rare blood groups for patients across India, enhancing emergency response and treatment.