New Delhi: Indian Red Cross Society’s national headquarters building near Parliament Street, which stands on land donated by Nawab of Junagadh, faces closure as central govt has asked its management to vacate the facility to pave way for construction of MPs’ chambers.
The move has raised concerns among several thalassemia patients who depend on the facility for transfusions, as the transition is bound to disrupt blood supply. The Union health ministry, however, has assured the patients they will not face any issues. “There will be no shifting till the blood bank is ready,” said secretary, health and family welfare, Apurva Chandra.
According to available figures, at least 50% of the total blood collection of 2,400 units per month at the IRCS facility is utilised by thalassemia patients. Though govt has not yet set a deadline for shifting of the building or confirmed its new location, officials said it is likely to be moved to the Air India building next to the Election Commission office.
The area of the proposed new headquarters is 0.8 acres while the present building is on 2.6 acres. Sources at Red Cross Society said whenever the entire set-up is shifted, it will need to be inspected by both state and central govt bodies, which will likely take at least seven days. This transition could impact the facility’s functioning and disrupt the supply of blood to thalassemia patients.
“I have been coming here for the past two decades. Since the location is well connected, needy people reach easily without any transportation issue,” Gautam, a thalassemia patient, said, adding such centres should not be moved.
Corporate lawyer and member secretary, Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group, Anubha Taneja Mukherjee told TOI when she learnt the ministry of housing and urban development had asked IRCS HQ to relocate, she wrote to the ministry with a copy to the health minister, who is the chairman of the society. But she is yet to get any response, she said.
“They should not consider a world-class blood bank as a shop that can be relocated anywhere. A lot of thalassemia patients depend on Red Cross for blood transfusion. Where will our thalassemia prevention in Red Cross HQ go? Is it right to be so non-consultative and treat people with disabilities like this?” she said.
The IRCS website shows at present, nearly 1,000 thalassemia patients are registered with it and about 30-50 children visit the society every day as their blood transfusion occurs fortnightly. They are provided blood free of cost. Aplastic anaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes patients, in which the body no longer makes enough healthy blood cells, also get blood without any charges. “Since 2023, no one has been asked for replacement,” said an employee.
IRCS provides blood to private and govt hospitals in the city too. Its blood bank has been certified by ISO by BIS, NABH and NABL. The society provides relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promotes healthcare of vulnerable people and communities.
At the five-storied IRCS building, the staff works on the ground and fifth floors while the remaining floors are on rent. The rental money is used for paying salaries and other expenses, including transport and machines. “We don’t know how the society will manage it,” said an employee on condition of anonymity.
The IRCS headquarters was opened on June 25, 1977 by the then President of India B D Jatti. It was upgraded in 2007 over a three-year period by an architect deputed by German Red Cross and inaugurated on June 10, 2010 by Ghulam Nabi Azad, the health minister at the time.
