Blood donation system enough to protect blood stem cell donors

India does not require any specific policy for blood stem cell donations as the existing blood donation system was enough to protect the donors and recipients, a senior doctor said today.
"I don't think we need any more (policy) for blood stem cell donation than the one which exists in the current blood banking system to protect the donor and the patient. I don't think more legislation is needed because that will complicate things more," Dr Mammen Chandy, director Tata Memorial Centre, Kolkata said today.
Stating that bone marrow transplantation is the last choice for treating a patient suffering from fatal blood disorders like blood cancer and thalassemia, Dr Chandy rubbished claims of any malpractice in the country relating to bone marrow donation.

"Transplantation is the last choice because it's not that simple... And I don't think there is any malpractice in India currently in relation to bone marrow donation. This may not be true with organ transplantation but certainly there is no unethical practice regarding bone marrow transplantation in any of the sectors," he stated.
On whether there is a need for a law on this matter, the doctor said that the existing rules and regulations were "adequate at the moment".
"Because here there is nothing involved in it because you are donating something like blood. I think the existing rules and regulations are adequate at the moment," Dr Chandy said.

Cost of bone marrow transplantation is obviously a matter of concern, he said.
On whether there is a need for a policy to keep a control on the expenses involved in transplantation, he said, "Cost is obviously a major problem. I don't think that there is anything other than the intrinsic costs of the drugs, the facilities that are required which make this such an expensive procedure...