Blood banks run short of stock

Strap: Apprehend steep rise in demand once situation normalises

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh/Ludhiana, March 31

The medical fraternity in general and in-charges of blood banks in particular are worried about the steep rise in demand for blood when planned surgeries would be allowed once the situation normalises.

They are worried because the buffer stock is depleting fast as there has been a decline in the number of voluntary donors following the imposition of curfew, which was clamped in light of the Covid spread.

As of now, the blood banks are just managing the affairs as blood transfusion is required only for thalassemia patients and emergency situations.

Tarsem Garg, patron of the state award winner Social Welfare Organisation and organiser of blood donation camps, said donors had been facing problems in arranging blood for emergency surgeries.

Dr Jyoti Kapoor, in-charge of the blood bank at the Civil Hospital in Malerkotla, said she had already taken up the matter with senior functionaries in the administration.

“Having felt the necessity of revamping the buffer stock, we discussed the matter with senior functionaries of my department and civil administration. They have assured us that arrangements will be made to enable donors reach blood banks,” Dr Kapoor said.

Dr Sarguna Singh, in-charge of the blood bank at Christian Medical College and Hospital, said she was more worried about meeting demand for blood that would arise after restrictions on planned surgeries would be lifted. “We are mulling organising mega voluntary blood donation camps immediately after the situation normalises,” she said.

Dr Rajesh Kumar, in-charge of the blood bank at Dyanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, admitted there had been a steep decline in the number of units donated by donors in the past few weeks.

“As we had apprehended the problem in advance, we tried to keep enough stock of blood units by persuading donors from NGOs associated with us. Still, there is a gap of 2,000 units per month in normal times and the present situation,” Dr Kumar said.