Blood to be provided free of cost in all Punjab govt hospitals from Jan 1

As part of its 'Tandarust Punjab' mission, Punjab government will provide free-of-cost blood in all its government-run hospitals across the state from January 1.

Brahm Mohindra, Health and Family Welfare Minister, said, "Not only shall be blood provided free of cost, but it will also be ensured that the blood is available round the clock in all the hospitals."

This move will benefit thousands of patients across Punjab, who earlier had to pay processing charges of Rs 300 per unit of blood in civil hospitals and Rs 500 per unit in government medical colleges.

"From now, blood and blood components like packed RBC, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, platelets rich plasma and platelet concentrate will be given free of cost to all the patients," Mohindra further stated.

He added, "There are a total of 116 blood banks in Punjab, out of which 46 are being operated by the government, six by the Army and 64 others being run by private entities."