All Blood Centres / Banks to have NAT-PCR test by 2025

“The procurement of the NAT-PCR testing machines for the blood collection centres / banks shall be done through a single tender,”

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Blood Bank Centre Donation Unit
Picture: Pixabay

Last Updated on January 14, 2024 by The Health Master

Cuttack: The state government informed the Orissa high court that it has decided in principle to expand the NAT-PCR testing facility simultaneously to all blood centres / banks at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore, instead of opening them in a phased manner.

The High Court was hearing two PILs — one filed by lawyer Prabir Kumar Das and the other by Amit Abhijit Samal — seeking intervention for introduction of NAT-PCR facility in all the blood centres / banks on the ground that it enables detection of HIV-1 and -2 as well as hepatitis B and C much earlier compared to the traditional ELISA test.

So far 11 blood centres / banks have adopted the NAT-PCR technology and at present 47 per cent of total blood collections of the state are being tested through this advanced method.

In an affidavit, health and family welfare department’s commissioner-cum-secretary Shalini Pandit said the NAT-PCR testing facility is expected to be operationalised in the remaining 45 blood collection centres / banks by the end of 2025.

“The procurement of the NAT-PCR testing machines for the blood collection centres / banks shall be done through a single tender,” Pandit said.

“As a huge financial implication of about Rs 200 crore will be required for this expansion, concurrence of the line departments such as finance, planning & convergence, and subsequent appraisal by the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) is necessary, which is under process. After required approvals are obtained, necessary budgetary allocation shall be made in the budget,” she further said.

Taking note of it, the two-judge bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Gourishankar Satapathy posted the matter to June 21, allowing the petitioners time to file a rejoinder, if any, to the state government’s affidavit.

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