New Delhi, Jan 14 (NationPress) On Wednesday, a coalition of health specialists and advocates in New Delhi underscored the urgent necessity for comprehensive systemic reforms aimed at safeguarding individuals reliant on blood transfusions.

In a newly released position paper from the Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG), these experts highlighted the imperative for secure, timely, and fair access to blood, deeming it a fundamental issue concerning survival, dignity, and constitutional obligations.

"For those with thalassemia who require lifelong, regular blood transfusions, deficiencies in screening protocols, inconsistent access to advanced diagnostic tools, and fragmented regulations create significant and preventable dangers, including transfusion-transmitted infections like HIV and Hepatitis B and C," the experts noted in the document.

The group includes notable figures such as Prof. N.K. Ganguly, Former Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, a Public Health Advocate; Suneha Paul, a Thalassemia Patient Advocate; P.C. Sen, a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India; and Tuhin A. Sinha, National Spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The paper emphasized that blood safety is a fundamental component of India's healthcare framework that requires proactive rather than reactive measures.

By integrating patient experiences, scientific data, legal insights, and public health knowledge, the document offers a cohesive, action-driven strategy to fortify India's blood safety framework and protect the lives of transfusion-dependent patients, especially those affected by thalassemia.

Through discussions with policymakers, healthcare professionals, scientists, legal experts, and patient advocates, the paper identifies ongoing systemic issues, such as the inconsistent implementation of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) across blood banks, the lack of a unified national blood legislation, unequal access to safe blood in rural and marginalized areas, and insufficient transparency and accountability within the transfusion network.

It contended that these deficiencies collectively undermine patient confidence and expose vulnerable groups to unnecessary dangers.

“Our position paper is a clarion call to prioritize patient lives in policy considerations, to elevate blood safety from the periphery to the forefront of healthcare governance, and to ensure that preventable risks are eradicated through science, law, and accountability,” stated Deepak Chopra, Mentor of the Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG).

The paper also put forth recommendations including the mandatory implementation of Nucleic Acid Testing across all blood banks to reduce window-period infections and standardize screening protocols nationwide; the establishment of a comprehensive and enforceable Blood Safety Act to articulate patient rights and institutional duties; and the initiation of a dedicated National Thalassemia Control Programme to unify prevention, screening, and long-term care.