Health Minister rules out private blood banks

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The Government will not permit any private blood bank to operate in Sri Lanka, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva assured yesterday. He explained that under the new national policy on blood transfusion, no private blood bank will be allowed to operate in the country.

"We will never allow the private sector to engage in the blood transfusion task as it would lead to health risks," the Minister told a ceremony held at the BMICH to mark the World Blood Day. It was attended by more than 500 blood donors who had donated blood on more than 25 occasions.

"It is the responsibility of the Government to provide safe blood to the patients and this new policy will help to prevent diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis which could spread through blood transfusion" the Minister noted.

However, the Minister explained that only 200,000 persons are still donating blood in Sri Lanka while the country's population is around 19 million.

He appealed to the people to donate more blood to strengthen the Blood Bank. He said the Government has laid special emphasis on upgrading the health sector with foreign assistance ."Even the World Bank has come forward with assistance for health sector development realising its importance."

The World Bank and World Health Organisation have agreed to provide financial assistance and equipment to develop the Colombo Blood Bank as the largest blood transfusion training centre in South Asia.

At the ceremony, all blood donors who had done so more than 25 times were awarded prizes while Ven. Madampe Vijithasiri thera who had donated blood 102 times, Asok Muthumala 52 times and H. P. Caldera who had done so 53 times received mementos from Minister de Silva.