Portal launched recently provides info on blood availability across country: Mandaviya

Kolkata: Union Health Minister Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya on Friday said that a web portal has recently been created to provide information on the blood types available in the banks across the country, thus giving momentum to the voluntary blood donation movement. The minister, who is a physician, told a virtual press meeting from Delhi that 7,017 NGOs joined hands to float eRaktKosh.in for giving out all necessary information on blood availability, as part of the Centre's 'one nation, one platform' initiative.

"Once someone logs into the portal and clicks on a particular state and then a district, one can see the blood banks accessible in that area and the specific contact details," Mandaviya said at the meet attended by regional reporters from different cities, including Kolkata.

To a question, he also said that the portal would further help set up a national registry, where all information regarding blood availability and requirement would be collated.

The minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed to make the country free of tuberculosis by 2025.

"The rate for TB eradication, however, has not reached expected levels as of now. We have to ensure there is not one person suffering from TB in all spheres of society. Currently, there are 13 lakh TB patients in the country," he maintained.

Mandaviya asserted that India was praised by the entire world for its COVID-19 management and its response to the pandemic.

The country earned praise for its vaccination management, although "some people politicised the drive", he said.

The media, nonetheless, played its role "truthfully" by disseminating the right information, he added.