June 15, 2022
3 mins read

‘India needs better network to avoid blood wastage’

On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, the health professionals underscored the need to highlight the shortcomings and improve infrastructure and network of blood banks across India…reports Asian Lite News

Covid-19 pandemic exposed blood shortage across many Indian states, and this situation arose despite many good Samaritans repeatedly stepping forward to donate their blood.

On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, the health professionals underscored the need to highlight the shortcomings and improve infrastructure and network of blood banks across India.

According to some reports, India needs 15 million units of blood each year but manages to collect only 11 million units, a deficit of 4 million units. It is also estimated that nearly 12,000 individuals die in India each day, due to non-availability of quality blood. While this is one side of the coin, the other side indicates that India wastes about 6.5 lakh units of blood and blood components each year, due to lack of proper storage facilities.

Many doctors are raising their voices on the urgent need to address this major concern in the society.

Women suffering from bleeding during pregnancy or at childbirth, women and children suffering from anemia due to malnutrition, victims of trauma, etc., all need blood or/and blood-related products like plasma or platelets.

“Each day India needs large quantities of blood to treat many patients undergoing surgery or getting treatment for various forms of cancers. While there is a shortage of quality blood in the country, large quantities of it gets wasted when it cannot be transfused to a patient, within the right time, and in the right means. Key factors leading to donated blood wastage lack of proper storage facilities, leakages, contamination, testing delays due to manpower issues etc. All these problems can be addressed and must be resolved to ensure we emerge into a healthy India,” said Dr. Pradeep Panigrahi, Medical Director, SLG Hospitals.

“Some reports suggest that India does not have even a single well-managed blood bank in at least 63 districts as of September 2020. This lack of blood banks facility also adds to the healthcare delivery burden, resulting in loss of lives in emergency situations like trauma/accidents. Many individual hospitals are striving hard to ensure there is a proper supply of quality blood to those in need; but the network of blood banks must grow in numbers to ensure we address this concern,” observes Dr Satwinder Singh Sabharwal, COO, Aware Gleneagles Global Hospital.

Highlighting the need for a policy, Dr Kishore B. Reddy, Managing Director, Amor Hospitals said: “State and Union Governments have enhanced allocations to the healthcare sector in their annual budgets and are striving hard to improve the last mile delivery of quality healthcare services.” He believes the state and the union governments should bring out a policy that will ensure creation of more blood banks, even in remote parts of the country. This, he said, will ensure supply of safe blood and also ensure blood transfusion related risks are addressed well.

A staff member of Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd has physical examination before participating in a blood donation in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei

“While there are many kind-hearted Samaritans who step forward to donate their blood on a regular basis, there is a need to enhance awareness on blood donation, which is a healthy practice. There is always a dearth of rare blood groups like AB negative, A negative, B negative, AB positive, and Bombay blood group; and there should a special focus on ensure people with these rare groups consider donating their blood regularly, concluded Dr Sailesh Singhi, Senior Hematologist and Blood bank Incharge, Century Hospital.

ALSO READ-Kerala’s solid waste management project gets rolling

Previous Story

Now, PLA can undertake ‘special military ops’ abroad

Next Story

Brands with a fashionable twist

Latest from India News

India, UAE chase $100b trade dream

India and the UAE reaffirmed their CEPA partnership, setting a $100 billion non-oil trade target by 2030, with strong focus on energy, food, healthcare, and technology….reports Asian Lite News India and the

Tesla Struggles in India Market

Analysts suggest that unless tariffs are reduced or Tesla establishes local manufacturing, its vehicles will remain priced beyond the reach of most Indian consumers…reports Asian Lite News Tesla has sold only 600

Jaishankar Meets Singapore PM Wong in Delhi

Wong is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with PM Modi later in the day….reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday met Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in New

India, Germany Deepen Trade Ties

Bilateral trade has grown significantly over the past decade between the two nations, reaching a record high of around $33.4 billion…reports Asian Lite News Amid significant and far-reaching changes on the global

India to Build Oz Homes?

The announcement comes as Australia grapples with a worsening housing crisis….reports Asian Lite News India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has revealed that New Delhi is in “deep negotiations” with Canberra
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Jaishankar says future of Asia hinges on India-China relations

Jaishankar said Asia is at the “cutting edge of change”

Manipur gears up for final phase of polling

According to the election officials, an electorate of 8,47,400, including