Chandigarh, 30.07.2026:A one-day National Workshop on “Building a National Quality Network for Excellence in Blood Transfusion Services: Expanding the NBTC External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for Blood Centres” was held today at Hotel Mountview, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

The workshop was organized by the Blood Transfusion Services, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the Blood Transfusion Services, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society (CSACS). Delegates from across the country participated in the workshop.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Megha Pravin Khobragade, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Meera Dhuria, Additional Director General, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Ratti Ram Sharma, PGIMER, Chandigarh; Dr. Anshika, SDMH, Jaipur; Dr. Dipankar Baruah, GMCH, Guwahati; and Dr. Sadbhavna Pandit, Project Director, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society.

Welcoming the participants, Dr. Sadbhavna Pandit highlighted Chandigarh’s commitment to maintaining high standards in blood transfusion services through close coordination among blood centres, healthcare institutions and regulatory bodies. She emphasized that quality is a continuous process and the workshop would provide a platform to strengthen quality systems and expand the implementation of the NBTC External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) across the country.

The technical sessions included “Advancing Quality through Universal EQAS Coverage” by Dr. Megha Pravin Khobragade, focusing on the evolution of the NBTC EQAS programme, Vision 2030 and the national expansion strategy; “EQAS Implementation: Pre-Sample Dispatch Planning & Preparation” by Dr. Anshika, covering sample preparation, validation, logistics and coordination; “National Toolkit for Rational Use of Blood and Blood Products – Part I: Implementation of Rational Blood Use Practices” by Dr. Harikishan Dhawan, PGIMER, Chandigarh, highlighting evidence-based transfusion practices, patient blood management and transfusion safety.

The workshop also featured “EQAS Implementation: Performance Assessment and Feedback” by Dr. Joy Mammen, CMC Vellore, focusing on performance evaluation, corrective and preventive actions and reporting; “Global Perspective on Strengthening Quality Systems in Blood Transfusion Services” by Dr. Madhur Gupta, Technical Officer–Pharmaceuticals, WHO India Country Office, New Delhi, covering global best practices and quality management systems; and “National Toolkit for Rational Use of Blood and Blood Products – Part II: Governance, Audit, Monitoring and Quality Improvement” by Dr. Dipankar Baruah, GMCH, Guwahati, highlighting governance, transfusion audits, monitoring mechanisms and institutional roles in strengthening quality systems.

The workshop concluded with a collective reaffirmation of commitment to excellence and continuous quality improvement in blood transfusion services across the country.