Pune city is currently facing a severe blood shortage, creating significant challenges for hospitals and patients requiring urgent transfusions. This crisis comes in the wake of the State Blood Transfusion Council’s (SBTC) decision to prohibit inter-state bulk transfers of blood and its components until January 31, 2025.Since Diwali, the number of blood donation camps has drastically declined, a situation worsened by the recent state assembly elections.
As a result, specific blood types, particularly AB-positive and B-positive, are in critically low supply. Blood banks in the city report that their current stock will only last for the next two to three days, putting patients at risk.Dr. Nisha Teli, a blood transfusion officer at Metro Blood Bank in Aundh, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that only one blood donation camp was held on November 9, resulting in just 26 blood bags available. “We are facing a shortage across all blood groups and have started requesting in-house donations to maintain our supply,” she stated, urging the community to step forward and donate.
Ram Bangad, founder of the NGO Raktache Nate, echoed these concerns, attributing the shortage to the lack of donation camps since Diwali. He noted that the assembly elections led to a significant drop in participation from potential young donors.Pune district is home to 57 registered blood banks, both public and private. Prominent facilities like Metro Blood Bank, Sassoon Hospital, and Sahyadri Hospital have all reported critical shortages. Blood is essential for surgeries, trauma care, and treating patients with conditions like thalassemia. Community support is crucial to overcoming this crisis and ensuring that hospitals can meet the urgent needs of patients.
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