Eight days for one bag of blood

Lokmat News NetworkChhatrapati Sambhajinagar

City’s children are waiting, and for thalassemia patients, every day without blood is a fight for survival.

The number of patients is rising, mostly among children. On World Thalassaemia Day, the theme “Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen” underscores the concern. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has the highest burden in the region with 641 patients, followed by Jalna with 246, as per district data accessed by Lokmat Times. These patients depend on regular transfusions as they cannot produce sufficient blood. However, GMCH, which manages over 450 registered patients, is facing a severe shortage, leading to waiting periods of 8–10 days, according to patient associations. Experts warn that if two minor carriers marry, there is a high risk of a child being born with major thalassaemia. They stress awareness, early screening, and genetic counselling as essential lifelines. “The city faces a shortage of blood for thalassemia patients. Demand is rising, but supply is limited to about 300 bags per month and 3,500 annually. Early detection is the only sustainable solution,” said Bharat Sonawane, Head of Pathology, GMCH.

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Mandatory testing the need of the hour

Doctors and associations are urging mandatory thalassaemia screening during pregnancy. A simple test can prevent lifelong suffering.

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Faster Thalassaemia Testing

A Rs 40 lakh upgraded HPLC machine to be inaugurated this month will reduce detection time from 10 hours to just 1 hour, enabling faster diagnosis.

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Thalassemia: Blood requirement overview

Category

Details

Frequency

2 transfusions per month

Per session

~350 ml per bag

Based on

Age and weight

Infant need

15 ml per kg, twice a month

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When blood becomes a battle

“My 17-year-old son, Shushat Borse, needed four blood bags in 1.5 months. Every transfusion is a struggle. We require filtered blood, but shortages persist. We cannot always rely on GMCH. Authorities must ensure steady supply, because for our children, blood means survival.”

- Renuka Borse, patient parent

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A waiting list measured in fear

“Every delay feels like a countdown. With over 800 thalassemia patients in the district, families wait 8-9 days for blood. This is not just shortage but daily anxiety. Thalassemia screening must be made mandatory during pregnancy to prevent future suffering.”

- Anil Divekar, Chairperson, Thalassemia Society, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar