Bagmo Pvt Ltd, a pioneering healthcare startup based in Kochi, Kerala, is making significant strides in transforming blood bank management with its innovative RFID enabled blood bank software.
Founded in 2016, Bagmo is on a mission to tackle the critical issue of blood availability in rural India, using advanced technology to ensure the safety and efficiency of blood supply chains.
The Challenge: Blood Shortages in Rural Areas
In India, blood shortages in rural areas often lead to tragic outcomes, with many lives lost due to the unavailability of safe and timely blood transfusions.
Traditional blood bank systems face significant challenges, including tracking and monitoring blood bags’ storage conditions during transportation and storage, resulting in wastage and compromised safety.
Bagmo’s Solution
Bagmo has developed a unique RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) based blood bank management system designed to address these challenges head on.
The system integrates RFID tags with blood bags, allowing for real time monitoring from donor to patient.
This technology provides comprehensive traceability, including tracking the location, temperature, and expiration of each blood bag throughout the entire supply chain.
The Bagmo solution ensures that every blood bag is continuously monitored for optimal storage conditions, reducing wastage and improving safety.
RFID scanners and smart temperature sensors are deployed at various points in the blood supply chain, providing critical data that can be used to track and manage blood inventory effectively.
Key Benefits and Features
- Vein to Vein Traceability: Bagmo’s system offers end to end tracking of blood bags, from the donor’s vein to the patient’s vein. This ensures the highest level of accuracy and safety in blood transfusions.
- Real Time Temperature Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of blood bag temperatures minimizes the risk of spoilage and maintains the quality of blood products.
- Enhanced Inventory Management: The system supports electronic scanning and provides a complete audit trail of blood stock, optimizing inventory levels and reducing excess inventory.
- Compliance and Certification Assistance: Bagmo’s software simplifies regulatory compliance by automating many manual processes and providing detailed records for certification purposes.
- Integration with Existing Systems: Bagmo’s technology is compatible with various APIs and HIS systems using HL7 protocols, making it adaptable to different blood bank setups.
- User Friendly Interface: The software allows staff to quickly view the location and status of any blood bag, saving time and effort in managing blood inventory.
A Journey of Innovation and Impact
Bagmo’s journey began with the vision of improving healthcare outcomes in India through engineering and operational innovations.
As a spin out of BIRAC’s Social Innovation Immersion program, the startup received grant support for its efforts in developing healthcare technology.
Co founders Ashfaq Ashraf and Anas D, and team have leveraged their expertise in clinical engineering, hardware prototyping, and software development to create a solution that addresses the critical gaps in blood bank management.
Collaborations with prominent institutions like Christian Medical College, Vellore, and General Hospital, Trivandrum have been instrumental in refining and piloting their products.
The Impact
To date, Bagmo’s RFID based blood bank software has been implemented in major blood banks and hospitals across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, successfully monitoring over 2,01,000 blood bags.
The technology has been pivotal in identifying adverse events and improving the overall quality of blood transfusions, contributing to better patient outcomes and more efficient blood supply management.
The Road Ahead
Bagmo remains committed to expanding its reach and impact, with ongoing plans for further installations and technological enhancements.
By ensuring that safe, high quality blood is available when and where it’s needed, Bagmo is helping to prevent unnecessary deaths and improve the quality of healthcare in some of India’s most underserved regions.
As Bagmo continues to expand its footprint, the startup is poised to make a lasting impact on the healthcare system, ensuring that safe blood is no longer a luxury but a readily available resource for all.
