182 people in Maharashtra got HIV through transfusion of blood: Minister

As many as 182 people have been infected by HIV during blood transfusion in the last one and a half years, the Legislative Council was informed on Monday even as the government clarified that the figures were based on voluntary disclosure by clients at the integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC).

Nationalist Congress Party’s member of Legislatiave Council (MLC) Prakash Gajbhiye, through a written question, sought to know if the figures provided by National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) were true. According to NACO figures, 2,234 people across the country and 276 people in Maharashtra were affected by the virus.

“If these figures are true, which blood banks have been involved in the blood transfusion of these patients Also, has the government conducted any inquiry on them ” he questioned. In a written response, Maharashtra health minister Deepak Sawant stated that the actual number of people infected was 182. “The figures are based on voluntary disclosures by patients at the integrated counselling and testing centres. Patients claim to have been infected by HIV-AIDS during blood transfusion,” Dr Sawant stated.

“Thus, only once we get specific information on the blood bank which was involved in the transfusion leading to the transmission of the HIV virus, action be taken,” he added. Dr Sawant further said that due to periodical counselling to blood bank officials, counsellors and testing lab officials for maintaining the quality of management, cases of acquiring HIV due to blood transfusion have come down.

He said that NACO has instructed all ICTCs and counsellors to ensure pre and post counselling of patients visiting them for check-ups. Also, blood banks and ICTCs have been instructed to ensure safety of patients during blood transfusion in the future, he said.