City hospitals stare at acute blood shortage

Aurangabad, Dec 1:

With a reduction in the number of donation drives and increased wariness among potential donors during the past eight months, city hospitals are staring at an acute shortage of blood. The blood bank officials said that the stock is enough to tide them over the next five to seven days instead of the 20 day average.

The number of voluntary blood donations in and around the city has dropped dramatically over the past eight months. Therefore, the stock available in the blood bank is falling short of demand. Hanumant Rule, in-charge of the blood bank at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), said that the stock of blood at the state-run facility has almost been exhausted. “We have a capacity of storage of around 2,000 units of blood, but the stock currently is not enough. The total number of blood donations camps have shrunk since the outbreak of Covid-19 and those which are getting held are receiving poor or moderate response from donors,” he said. As per the officials, the city''s blood stock can only last for five days. The fear of a possible second wave and the growing number of patients have added to administration worries. The number of corona patients has been increasing since last week. Other health treatments and surgeries have also been started. Having no bloodstock is causing difficulties for hospitals. The city has seven blood banks, including a government regional blood bank. However, there is a shortage of blood in all these places.