An appraisal of hemovigilance program in relation to blood safety operating in the blood bank of a tertiary care hospital

Hemovigilance is a structured surveillance system spanning the entire transfusion chain, designed to detect, report, and prevent adverse reactions related to blood and its components. Although India launched the Haemovigilance Programme of India (HvPI) in 2012, its uniform implementation across healthcare institutions remains inconsistent. To assess the implementation and operational effectiveness of HvPI, with a focus on documentation, reporting practices, and organizational gaps impacting transfusion safety. A descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at the blood bank of a tertiary care hospital and its associated clinical wards. The study was carried out at the Blood Bank of Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, from January to September 2021. It included 61 adverse events-31 transfusion-related and 30 donor-related-analyzed using structured observation checklists, interviews with 57 healthcare personnel (doctors, nurses, technicians), and review of documentation and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS v29. The blood bank had sound infrastructure and documentation systems. However, key gaps included inconsistent reporting to the HvPI portal, limited staff training, poor bedside compliance, and manual temperature checks. Only 45.1% of transfusion recipients were satisfied with care, and 74.1% expressed reluctance to undergo transfusion again. Among staff, knowledge deficits were noted in transfusion timing, storage, and reporting standards. While internal documentation and SOP adherence were strong, haemovigilance practices lacked real-time reporting and training reinforcement. Addressing staff training, improving HvPI data submission, and reinforcing bedside transfusion protocols can significantly enhance transfusion safety.