Mumbai: The State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has issued a notice to all blood banks asking them to submit a complete report on the collection of blood that took place in the last four days.
On November 10, The Asian Age published the article on civic-run KEM blood bank officials admitting that there was a scarcity but arrangements were being made to deal with the situation. The SBTC notice to city-based blood banks comes close on the heels of the report.
According to data procured from SBTC, city blood banks collected 450 units of blood last month through various blood donation camps.
In a year, KEM collects 27,000 units, the state-run J.J collects 36,000 units and the civic- run Sion and Nair Hospitals collect over 15,000 blood units each. The data also shows that 900 blood units are required each day for surgeries and blood transfusions.
On November 9, data showed that KEM Hospital had 90 units, J.J. 75, Nair 50 and Sion blood bank 70 units of blood. Patients have said that even common blood groups such as A+ and B+ were not available. KEM, Sion, Nair, Wadia, J.J, and St George hospitals organised voluntary blood donation camps on Sunday to meet the shortage.
“Acting on the non-availability of blood which was brought to our notice by the media, the SBTC organised transfer of blood from other blood banks in Mumbai,” said an SBTC official.
Dr Arun Thorat, heading the SBTC, said “To overcome this dearth, the SBTC has ordered all the city-based blood banks to organise a blood donation drive in the city.
Post-Diwali there is always a shortage of blood as very few people come out for blood donation drives and the shortage was more severe this year,” he said.
