Red Cross blood bank agitation called off

The 14 day old strike by the staff of the Red Cross blood bank has been called off by mutual consent between the Indian Red Cross Society and the employees of the blood bank. The employees have been promised that a decision concerning their demands would be taken in two months time.The news will come as a welcome respite for thalassaemic patients who have been suffering due to lack of the availability of blood in the past few days. The Delhi government had only yesterday announced some relief measures for patients suffering from thalassaemia. Thalassaemic patients registered at various hospitals in the city were promised red blood cells from the hospital blood bank only. In some hospitals, the doctors from the paediatrics ward also gave blood for the blood bank.The Red Cross Blood Bank is the largest blood bank in the country. Though various hospitals have their own banks, they usually cater to emergencies. More blood banks are needed to meet the increasing requirements of patients suffering from diseases like thalassaemia for whom blood is a necessity every alternate week.