The e-blood bank system of Assam is in a sorry state with lack of updated information due to unavailability of workforce.
Assam’s web based blood bank MIS is an integrated blood bank automation system which helps to track and trace blood donors in the state.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
It has an existing donor database of over 10,000 donors but it requires more workforces to regularly update the information. The database was supposed to be updated three times per day but the information for districts such as Barpeta, Dibrugarh was last updated on November 17, 2017.
On the other hand, the information regarding Karbi Anglong and Sonitpur was last updated on July 17, 2017.
“We have submitted a proposal to increase the manpower to maintain the web based blood bank portal. The file is in the process and yet to be approved by the government,” Fokhrul Alam Chowdhury, Asst Director (BTS) and Nodal Officer of E-Blood Bank, said.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
“The system will be fully active by end of February,” he added.
Interestingly, the existing data regarding Guwahati Medical College & Hospital in Kamrup (M) district was last updated on July 18, 2017 according to www.assambloodbank.com website. But it is to be noted that GMC stock availability information is recorded through e-Rakt kosh, a Central government initiative run through National Health Mission.
The GMC hospital currently runs a state of the art model blood bank.
“The e-blood bank portal provides detailed information regarding the donor so it leads to risk reduction related to blood transfusion,” Chowdhury added. He further noted that people should become more aware about voluntary blood donation.
The system has two aspects, first to cater to the citizens for easy access to blood availability status of blood banks. Secondly, it helps in blood bank management as it facilitates registration, stock availability, testing and issue.
The e-blood bank MIS was launched by Assam State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the occasion of World AIDS Day on December 1, 2016.
The e-blood bank project aims to create a central database with information regarding all the blood banks of the state.
In total, there are 69 blood banks in Assam.
Currently, the web based portal exists with the list of 26 NACO supported government-owned hospitals across different districts of Assam. But districts such as Baksa, Charaideo, Chirang, Hojai, South Salmara-Mancachar, Udalguri and West Karbi Anglong do not have this facility yet.