e-Rakt Kosh

e-Rakt Kosh: Recently, in a significant move to enhance access to life-saving blood for individuals with rare blood types, the Union Health Ministry announced plans to integrate the Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI) with the national blood management portal, e-Rakt Kosh.

o This integration is expected to save time, reduce costs, and improve outcomes during medical emergencies.

• About e-Rakt Kosh: Official online blood bank management system of India, implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM).

o Coverage: Over 3,800 blood centers across the country are registered on the platform.

o Developer: Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

o Architecture: Built with a modular, scalable, and rule-based architecture to accommodate the diverse needs of stakeholders nationwide.

o Purpose: Acts as a central hub for blood-related services including availability, donor details, and donation camp information.

o Objectives: Ensure safe and adequate blood supply, minimize turnaround time for blood services, prevent wastage of blood and components, curb professional (paid) blood donations, create a national network of blood banks and maintain a comprehensive donor repository

• About RDRI: Created by the ICMR – National Institute of Immunohematology (ICMR-NIIH) in collaboration with four partner institutes.

o Database: Maintains a screened database of approximately 4,000 donors tested for over 300 rare blood group markers.

o Purpose: Helps in promptly locating compatible rare blood donors, ensuring safer and more effective blood transfusions.

o For Alloimmunised Patients: Especially beneficial for individuals whose immune systems reject common blood antigens, by providing access to highly specific matches.

o Technological Advancement: Utilises a DNA-based multiplex PCR test to rapidly identify rare blood types, customised for the Indian population.