India
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Advocates Voluntary Blood Donation and Action Against Professional Donors
By PTI
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday emphasized the importance of promoting voluntary blood donation. He urged medical professionals to assist in curbing the practice of professional blood donation, citing potential infection risks. Speaking at the inauguration of an Indian Medical Association (IMA) charitable blood center in Gorakhpur, Adityanath noted that blood cannot be artificially produced, despite advancements in medical technology. He characterized voluntary donation as an act of compassion for those requiring blood. The Chief Minister appealed for increased voluntary donations to meet demand, suggesting doctors utilize social media to motivate potential donors. He also called on doctors to report cases of professional donors with various diseases to the government and administration, and to raise awareness against this practice. Adityanath warned that unchecked professional donors could lead to a serious infection crisis and stressed the need for effective action to maintain public trust in the medical profession and blood donation system. He commended the Gorakhpur IMA unit for establishing the charitable blood center and a free outpatient department, recognizing it as an example of the medical community's social responsibility. The Chief Minister mentioned his previous visits to IMA-operated blood banks in Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Bareilly, expressing a desire for a similar facility in Gorakhpur. He highlighted improvements in regional healthcare infrastructure, including super-specialty facilities at BRD Medical College and AIIMS in Gorakhpur, and the establishment of medical colleges in neighboring districts. Adityanath stated that the number of MBBS seats in Uttar Pradesh has increased from approximately 4,600 to over 13,500, with postgraduate seats doubling. He also referenced proposed med-tech centers of excellence with IIT Kanpur and at SGPGI, Lucknow. The Chief Minister concluded by noting significant improvements in encephalitis management and healthcare access in Gorakhpur and Uttar Pradesh compared to seven or eight years prior.