Outdated platelets: Probe on at A'pura Hospital
Chaminda Perera and Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura
Additional District Group Corr.
ANURADHAPURA: A special team investigating the alleged use of
outdated platelet kits in blood transfusions in Government hospitals
detected 30 such kits from the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital yesterday.
Anuradhapura Hospital authorities have despatched this stock to the
Blood Transfusion Centre in Colombo when they were found outdated. Blood
Transfusion Centre officials have not accepted this stock and returned
them to the hospital.
The prospective blood donors and patients are facing a dilemma
whether it is safe to donate blood to the hospital. The hospital caters
to thousands of patients including soldiers from the battlefront and the
authorities should remove apprehensions among patients by introducing a
solid mechanism for blood transfusion and donation, sources said.
Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Karunatilake
denied any possibility of using outdated platelets in blood transfusion.
"We have a comprehensive system with regard to blood transfusion which
ensures the safety of blood donors and the patients subjected to
transfusion."
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage
yesterday said a team of Health Ministry officials has been appointed to
inquire into the alleged use of outdated platelets in key hospitals
islandwide. This team will look into how these platelets came to these
hospitals and who was responsible for sending them to hospitals.
"The Ministry has already transferred high ranking officials in the
Blood Transfusion Centre to facilitate this investigation and all
offenders will be punished severely under the Establishment Code," he
said.
The Ministry leaves no room for such acts endangering the confidence
in the health service by the people.
All hospital are subject to this investigation and their report is
expected soon, he said.
Dr. Kahandaliyanage confirmed that 30 outdated platelet kits were
detected by his team. |
