Union Minister of State Takes Over SBTC Office, Raises Concerns Over Patient Impact

Union Minister of State Takes Over SBTC Office, Raises Concerns Over Patient Impact
Mumbai: In a move to facilitate the implementation of central health schemes in the state, Union Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, has taken control of the office of the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC). Along with the director’s office, several other sections of the council have been seized by the minister’s officials. To make space for his office, the SBTC office is being relocated to another location, which is likely to cause inconvenience to patients with thalassemia, hemophilia, and sickle cell diseases. This shift may also impact the council’s operations, according to its staff.
The State Blood Transfusion Council, established 20 years ago by the Supreme Court’s directive, manages blood stock and blood banks in the state. It was set up in an independent office on the fifth floor of the Ravindra Annex building in Churchgate. However, over the past two weeks, despite the absence of any government order, the council’s office has been partially occupied by the minister’s personnel.
The health department had requested space to effectively implement the central government’s health schemes in the state, secure additional funding, and submit proposals to the Union government. In response, the health department took over two rooms from the SBTC office. However, these rooms are too small to accommodate the necessary operations, leading the department to request a larger space for smoother functioning, including the ability to hold meetings.