IMPHAL, November 2: Adding another feather in its cap, Shija Hospitals and Research Institute (SHRI) on Saturday became the first hospital in the North-Eastern Region to be equipped with National Accredited Board of Hospital (NAHB) Accredited Board Blood Blank and Transfusion Service along with Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) facility.
The official announcement was made by Health minister, Phungzathang Tonsing during a press conference held at the Shija Hospital.
The accreditation has also made Manipur the third state ever to have the facility in the country.
Speaking to media persons, Phungzathang divulged that the blood bank is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC) Government of Manipur through Planning department, Government of Manipur.
Assuring that the government will see what steps should be taken up to help the weaker section of the society during testing of blood, Phungzathang informed that the re-imbursement facility for BPL section under the Manipur State Illness Scheme will be provided through their district authority concerned instead of the current trend of re-imbursement through directorate level.
Managing director of the Shija Hospital, Dr Palin said that earlier testing Nucleic Acid used to take 30 days, but now it will take only eight days at Shija Blood Bank and transfusion services.
Managing Director of Shija hospital, Dr Kh Palin, stated that transmission of HIV, HBV and HCV, continue to be a threat to safe blood transfusion, especially in developing countries, which is due to the low number of voluntary donations, use of low sensitivity tests for viral screening and the high prevalence of these viruses.
This has contributed to the high rate of transfusion transmitted infections compared with developed countries, asserted Palin.
He further claimed that with Nucleic Acids Technology(NAT) based testing for viral nucleic acid can further reduce the transmission risk of these agents in blood donations made during the sero-conversion window period adding that the facility with be made available to the public for a minimal price of rupees 1500.