The Tamil Nadu health department has decided to create a separate list of regular donors who donate blood every three months and make sure that they are on the privilege list and get blood free of cost during an emergency.
Of the 272 blood banks in the state, 85 are in government hospitals and 24 operate from medical colleges and the rest are private blood donation centres.
At a recent meeting held by the health officers who oversee blood donation, it was decided that people who donate blood every three months should be given priority during emergencies and they would be given blood free of cost at any government hospital.
“All the regular donors would be provided with identity cards and if any of them needs blood, we will have all their details like where they donated blood last and how many units they have donated so far and we will do our best to help them at the earliest,” said a health officer.
The donors should carry their blood donation identity card at all times so it would save a lot of time and be easier to help them, he added.
It was also decided at the meeting that all volunteers working at government blood donation camps would be given uniforms so they can be identified easily.