Nagpur is battling not only an intense summer but also a severe blood shortage, with several blood banks in the city left with stocks that may last barely a week or two. The crisis has reached an alarming stage as Government data shows that most blood banks being run by Government have enough stock of blood but not the private ones. The Super Speciality Hospital, Government Medical College and Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences have good stock of blood. Nagpur serves as a major medical hub for Vidarbha as well as neighbouring districts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Every day, accident victims, cancer patients, thalassemia and sickle cell patients, women facing complications during childbirth, and patients undergoing surgeries require large quantities of blood. However, blood banks that are meant to support these critical cases are now struggling to maintain even minimum reserves. The shortage has exposed the dependence of the city’s blood supply system on seasonal donation drives.

 

Blood banks rely heavily on camps organised by social organisations, colleges, associations and voluntary groups. But with summer vacations underway, many regular donors are out of station, vacations have started so students are not available. Soaring temperatures have made organising camps difficult and expensive. Additional cooling and storage arrangements are required during summer, discouraging many organisations from conducting donation drives. Secretary of Dr Hedgewar Blood Bank Ashok Patki told ‘The Hitavada’, “These days we have to send patients empty-handed. This is very painful for us. Unlike Government-run blood banks, we can’t ask for alternative blood bag from patient’s relative. If we have bag, we have to give it to them. No donation camps are getting organised which we rely on mostly. The shortage is directly affecting patients admitted for surgeries and emergency treatment, many of whom are unable to get blood on time.”

 

According to officials associated with blood banks, the crisis is likely to worsen further in June if immediate corrective measures are not taken. Nagpur requires nearly 600-700 blood bags every day. However, blood banks are currently receiving merely 100 to 150 and those also get consumed immediately. Hospitals are increasingly being forced to run from one blood bank to another to arrange blood for emergency cases. There are five Government and 18 private blood banks operating in Nagpur district. Yet, according to data available on the Government’s ‘e-Raktakosh’ portal, several blood banks are functioning with critically low stock. Dr Sheela Mundhada, Director of Jeevan Jyoti Blood Bank, said the situation has become serious due to the sharp decline in blood donation camps and voluntary donors. In every summer we face this problem but not to such an extent.”

 

Dr Rajendra Dakhane, President of Rainbow Group, urged citizens to shed misconceptions surrounding blood donation during summer. He said, “Healthy individuals can safely donate blood even during high temperatures provided they remain hydrated and follow basic precautions. With demand continuing to rise and supply rapidly shrinking, we appeal for voluntary donations to prevent disruption in emergency medical services across the region. It is for the cause of the society.”