At least 2,234 Indians have contracted HIV while receiving blood transfusions in hospitals in the past 17 months alone, say officials. The information was revealed by the country's National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) in response to a petition filed by information activist Chetan Kothari. Mr Khothari told the BBC that he was "shocked" by the revelation. India has more than two million people living with HIV/Aids. The highest number of patients who had been infected with HIV as a result of contaminated blood in hospitals, were from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh with 361 cases, Mr Kothari's RTI (Right to Information) query revealed. The western states of Gujarat with 292 cases and Maharashtra with 276 cases rank second and third respectively. The Indian capital Delhi is at number four with 264 cases. "This is the official data, provided by the government-run Naco. I believe the real numbers would be double or triple that," Mr Kothari told the BBC. Under law, it is mandatory for hospitals to screen donors and the donated blood for HIV, hepatitis B and C, malaria and other infections. "But each such test costs 1,200 rupees ($18; £12) and most hospitals in India do not have the testing facilities. Even in a big city like Mumbai, only three private hospitals have HIV testing facilities. Even the largest government hospitals do not have the technology to screen blood for HIV," Mr Kothari said. "This is a very serious matter and must be addressed urgently," he added.
Data released by India 's National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) reveals that over 2.1 million people have contracted HIV while receiving blood transfusions in the country’s hospitals over the past 17 months . The data was released in response to a petition filed by activist Kothari , who is “shocked” at the figures: “This is the official data, provided by the government-run NACO . I believe the real numbers would be double or triple that. This is a very serious matter and must be addressed urgently." He added that Uttar 's hospitals lack the technology to screen blood for HIV and lack the funding. India already has at least 2,234 people living with HIV or AIDS, which is why it's critical to screen blood for the virus before using it in transfusions.