26-05-2025
State govt to tighten blood safety protocols after transfusion death
Jaipur: The Rajasthan govt on Monday announced plans to strengthen blood transfusion protocols across all state hospitals following the death of a 23-year-old pregnant woman at SMS Hospital due to a wrong blood transfusion last Wednesday.
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Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar convened an emergency meeting on Monday with superintendents of hospitals affiliated with SMS Medical College and other medical education department officials to address the incident and implement new safety measures.
"The life of every patient admitted to the hospital is invaluable and negligence at any level of treatment cannot be tolerated," Khimsar said during the meeting.
The health minister said that under the Rajasthan Digital Health Mission, several key changes will be implemented, including mandatory inclusion of blood group information in patients' Ayushman Bharat Health Account ID (ABHA ID). This digital integration aims to ensure accuracy and swift access to critical information during emergencies.
The minister ordered strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in ICUs and critical care wards across govt medical institutions. New guidelines mandate the constant presence of senior doctors and residents in these wards, along with deployment of only trained nursing and paramedical staff. Hospital administrators will be required to conduct regular inspections of ward conditions and blood bank operations, with instructions to address any deficiencies immediately.
The minister emphasised that strict action would be taken against staff found negligent in their duties.
