Maharashtra government’s long-standing ambitious plan to provide “Blood on Call” is all set to be rolled out in Mumbai and four other districts starting Ind-ependence Day, August 15.
Blood on call will deliver blood to those who need it across the city within the guaranteed time period of 30 minutes. The plan, which had been announced some time ago, and is also underway on a pilot basis in the Satara town and Sindhudurg district, is now being launched in Mumbai with all the intricacies worked out after health minister Suresh Shetty held a review meeting for its launch on Friday.
The toll number for the free service has been zeroed in as “106” and the there will be nine blood storage centres across the city, spread over western and eastern suburbs. The nine centres are namely, Vasai Municipal Hospital, Vasai, Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali, ESI Hospital in Kandivali and Mulund, Sub-district hospital in Malwani, VN Desai Hospital in Santa Cruz, BPT Hospital, Bhabha Hospital in Kurla and Dr Ambedkar Railway Hospital in Byculla. These nine units will be provided blood from JJ Hospital’s blood bank. Each storage unit will have four motorcyclists, who will be on call to deliver the blood needed. The riders will don a yellow vest with red stripes and it will bear the toll-free number 106. The motorbikes will also have a blue beacon.
“We have worked out the finer details of the plan. We have also got permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the blood storage centres. Our aim is to ensure delivery of blood within 30 minutes of a phone call request,” said Mr Shetty.
The scheme will be started in Parbhani, Ahmednagar, Amravati and Gadchiroli. The entire state would be covered by the scheme named as “Jeevan Amrut Yojana” by the end of October, said the health minister.