Blood for Sale! NDTV Finds Black Market at Hospitals
Blood is meant to be donated not sold. It saves lives during emergencies, surgeries, and for patients with serious conditions. But what if this lifesaving resource becomes a part of an illegal trade?
In a shocking undercover investigation called Operation Blood, NDTV has exposed a black market for blood that is secretly operating right outside some of Madhya Pradesh’s biggest government hospitals.
Blood for Sale, No Questions Asked
NDTV reporters posed as relatives of patients and approached various hospitals in Bhopal. They discovered that blood could be easily bought without any medical checks, ID proof, or valid prescriptions.
Nobody asked, “Who is the patient?” or “What’s the diagnosis?”
The only questions were:
- “How much blood do you want?”
- “How much can you pay?”
This isn’t a rare case. It’s a growing underground system happening right outside Hamidia Hospital, AIIMS Bhopal, JP Hospital, Navodaya Cancer Hospital, and several blood banks.
Not a Blame on Doctors, But a Wake-Up Call
Importantly, this investigation is not accusing doctors or hospitals. Many of them may not even know this is happening. However, it reveals a deeper problem just outside their gates a system that profits from desperate families.
This is not a hidden crime. It is openly taking place in front of hospital authorities and the public. That’s what makes it so dangerous and heartbreaking.
Why This Is a Public Health Emergency
When blood is sold like a product instead of being donated through proper medical channels, it creates serious health risks:
- Unsafe transfusions may spread infections
- No donor records mean no follow-up in case of disease transmission
- Financial exploitation of poor families who are already in crisis
This is not just unethical. It is life-threatening.
Steps Toward Safer Blood Access
To protect patients and ensure ethical practices, urgent actions are needed:
- Stricter monitoring around hospitals and blood banks
- Verification of all prescriptions and donor details
- Zero tolerance for unauthorized blood sales
- Public awareness campaigns about legal blood donation
- Action against brokers and middlemen
Conclusion
NDTV’s Operation Blood shines a light on a serious problem in our healthcare system. The investigation raises a crucial question:
When something as sacred as blood is being sold openly, who is responsible and who will act?
This is only the beginning of the investigation. More truths are yet to come.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
