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Blood banks from now will issue blood only on prescription from MBBS doctors. That means, blood and its components will no more be issued by the blood banks on prescriptions from homeopathy, ayurveda and unani doctors. This rule comes with the circular issued by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

According to official, by implementing this rule, indiscriminate use of blood in the treatment of patients can be curbed. At several occasions, due to the indiscriminate usage of blood several transfusion-related infections and deaths occurred, said the circular.

Flutters arouse by the August 18 circular within the alternative medicine practitioners. They believe that the new rule will bring adverse affect to the healthcare delivery particularly in rural areas.

Few other also claim that even Mumbai hospitals could face hardships during emergencies, as several corporate both medium and big hired ayurveda doctors to run their wards and ICUs.

Dr G N Singh, the Drugs Controller General of India, told TOI that, “The decision to restrict prescriptions on which blood will be made available was taken "solely keeping the safety of patients in mind,”

"The time has come for strict monitoring. It is important to know who is prescribing blood and how much. Our utmost goal is to see that patient safety is not compromised at any point."

He also said that the circular was based on a clause in the Drug and Cosmetics Act. The act enables acceptance of prescriptions by blood banks only from MBBS doctors, dentists and certified veterinarians.

According to the Federation of Bombay Blood Banks, all banks have received the circular.

-Sumana