Claim of using outdated blood platelet bags ploy to privatise Blood Bank–ACMOA doctors

Some sections of the Public Health Sector were plotting to privatize the blood platelet service by giving the impression through media that outdated blood platelet bags are used in blood transfusions, the All Ceylon Medical Officers’ Association (ACMOA) said in a press release  and appealed to the public to help maintain the National Blood Bank.

They were trying to show that the National Blood Bank at Narahenpita was facing a crisis as there was a shortfall in the number of blood donors deliberately ignoring the fact that about 90 percent of the blood received was donated by various voluntary and social service organizations, the release said.

Since the people believe that blood donation was an act of merit and as the employees were actively encouraging blood donors the blood transfusion system of our country had been highly evaluated by the World Health Organization. But the National Blood Transfusion Bill drafted by the Minister of Healthcare proves the point that there was a conspiracy to privatize the National Blood Bank by trying to create an artificial crisis. Therefore the ACMOA will make every effort to defeat the conspiracy of a section of the Public Health Service and the Minister of Healthcare aimed at privatization, the release said.