Gauhati High Court directs Nagaland to establish blood banks or storage centres in every district hospital
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KOHIMA — The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court has directed Nagaland government to ensure that every district in the state has at least one blood storage centre or blood bank and to take steps to address the shortage of specialists in blood transfusion services.
The direction was issued on May 27 while disposing of a public interest litigation filed in 2021 concerning blood banking facilities in the state.
In its order, the court directed the department of Health and Family Welfare to take appropriate steps in line with the roadmap placed before the court.
It further directed respondent Nos. 1 to 4—the principal secretary of Health and Family Welfare, state mission director of National Health Mission, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, and Nagaland State Blood Transfusion Centre—to take appropriate steps to increase the number of specialists in blood transfusion, observing that blood storage centres and blood banks would not be workable without such specialists.
It also directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide necessary financial assistance and technical support required for setting up blood storage centres or blood banks in every district hospital in the state.
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“Though the subject ‘Public Health and Sanitation; Hospitals and Dispensaries’ is a state subject, the government of India cannot shy away from providing necessary financial assistance and technical know-how to states like the State of Nagaland where, on account of lack of availability of adequate finances, the state is not being able to provide necessary medical infrastructure, which in turn violates the Right to Health which is a facet of Right to Life,” the court observed.
It directed the state government and its agencies to coordinate with the Union ministry regarding financial assistance, technical support and other requirements needed to implement the roadmap submitted before the court.
It further directed the ministry to provide such assistance and monitor the establishment of blood banks and blood storage centres in accordance with its guidelines.
The court ordered the commissioner and secretary of Health and Family Welfare to file an affidavit of compliance and action taken report before the registry of the court on or before January 19, 2027.
The order stated that closure of the PIL would not prevent the petitioners or any other public-spirited individual from approaching the court again after January 2027 if the undertakings given before the court are not implemented, the directions are not complied with, or residents of the state continue to face difficulties due to the absence of blood banks, blood storage centres and trained personnel.
During the hearing, the court was informed that Nagaland currently has six licensed blood centres. These are located at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima; Dimapur District Hospital; Dr Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital in Mokokchung; Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research; 154 Army General Hospital at Zakhama; and 165 Army Hospital at Rangapahar.
The court was also informed that six blood storage centres are functioning at Community Health Centre, Jalukie; Community Health Centre, Medziphema; District Hospital, Mon; Dr. Motsuo Memorial District Hospital, Wokha; District Hospital, Kiphire; and Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital, Zunheboto.
In addition, the state has two blood component separation units located at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima and Dimapur District Hospital.