Shortage of blood at government hospitals, including Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Sadar Hospital, has left patients and their families struggling to secure timely transfusions, even after arranging replacement donors. The crisis has forced many emergency patients to turn to private blood banks, adding to the financial burden on families already dealing with critical illnesses.
According to patients’ attendants, blood is not being issued in several cases despite replacement donors being available. The shortage has delayed treatment for patients requiring emergency transfusions, those undergoing major surgeries and those suffering from blood disorders.
With blood stocks running low at government hospitals, many families are approaching private blood banks to obtain the required units. A unit of blood costs Rs 1,570 as a processing charge in private blood banks, while attendants are also required to arrange a replacement donor.
In one instance, a child admitted to the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department at RIMS required A-positive packed red blood cells for surgery. According to the family, blood could not be issued despite the presence of a donor.
“Our child’s surgery depended on timely blood availability. Every hour of delay increased our anxiety, and we finally had no option but to approach a private blood bank,” a family member said.
In another case, patient M. Prakash required B-positive blood. His family said they had arranged a donor but were unable to obtain blood from the government facility.
After approaching two to three blood banks, they finally secured the required unit from a private blood bank.
“We went from one blood bank to another before finding the required blood. It was a stressful experience at a time when our only concern should have been the patient’s recovery,” a member of Prakash’s family said.
Despite regular blood donation camps, hospital sources say collections are falling short of demand. Sadar Hospital in Ranchi has a shortage, with only 27 units of blood available through Saturday, completely lacking A-positive and A-negative blood types. In contrast, RIMS holds 84 units of blood in stock, as per the e Raktkosh portal, a government portal that manages the blood network.
Dr Prabhat Kumar, Civil Surgeon, said, “Blood donation camps are being organised from time to time in colleges, hospitals, Collectorates and other public offices. Government institutions are trying to maintain the stock through blood donation camps and awareness.”
Author
Related Stories
Most Read
- 1HC finds peon’s dismissal over tea and biscuits amounted to ‘injustice’
- 2Brace for 29 June: a Capricorn Full Moon, Mercury retrograde and Jupiter’s leap into Leo
- 3Japan Coach’s Whiteboard Tactics Go Viral at FIFA World Cup
- 4Why Should You Not Cut Hair and Nails on Guru Purnima? Know the Religious Belief
- 5Bokaro Steel Plant to Secure Iron Ore through India’s Longest Steel-Sector Slurry Pipeline
