As per data provided by state officials, around 6,338 people have donated blood at 100 camps set up across Maharashtra over the last three days. The latest blood donation drive was conducted to address the shortage of blood for patients of thalassemia, sickle cell, and haemophilia. Maharashtra had 28,760 units of blood as of Monday, December 14, which as per the state officials will address the blood shortage for the next few days.
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Several state officials including Health Minister Rajesh Tope have donated blood in a bid to encourage more people to come forward. Officials said that many of the camps set up by the government have seen good turnout from the citizens.
As of December 10, the state had 22,536 blood units which went up to 28,760 in just four days by December 14. Authorities said that their records will be updated further and the stocks may further increase. However, officials have said that they will need to maintain a sustained awareness campaign to ensure the number of donors is steady in the coming weeks and months.
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Dr Arun Thorat who leads the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) said that the agency has taken up the issue of blood shortage, as well as the problems faced by the patients, seriously. The SBTC had written to all blood banks last week warning of strict action, including penalties if they are found to be overcharging customers or swaying from the government-capped rates.
It is said that most blood banks in the state have been seeing a shortage since March this year. Moreover, several blood banks have reportedly asked patients to get replacement donors. Given the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic on the daily functioning of people, regular blood donors are reportedly hesitant to donate. Officials said that patients of thalassemia are the worst impacted since they require blood transfusion every fortnight.
The SBTC issued a list of defaulting blood banks that were not updating stock info on the state website. The likes of Ashirwad blood bank, Breach Candy, and Masina hospital bank in Mumbai were issued official warnings by the SBTC.
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