Blood banks for free platelets to go online

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 30, 2015: U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare  said that the department will soon have  on its website a list of blood banks where platelets for dengue patients will be made available free of cost.

On  April 29, Wednesday after inaugurating an awareness drive on preventing dengue and malaria, the Minister said that  doctors should avoid prescribing administration of platelets to dengue patients unnecessarily. Patients and kin  panic and rush to private blood banks and purchase costly platelets and wasting money. To prevent this, the health department would soon formulate guidelines on treating dengue patients. The guidelines would specify  platelet counts when it will be  needed to be externally administered.

Minister Khader asked health officials to keep malaria treatment kits ready. He asked officials to take preventive measures such as conducting routine checks of buildings under construction to drain stagnated water, draining out water from tender coconut shells and tyres, etc.  A handbook with answers for frequently asked questions on malaria was released. A street play was organised.

The Minister U.T. Khader also said that the department will soon upload a list of blood banks to its website. It will give details on where platelets for dengue patients will be available, free of cost.   The Health Department will soon come out with guidelines on treating dengue patients.