Even as the city is struggling to cope with the spurt in dengue cases, hospitals are having trouble bridging the gap between the demand and supply of platelets required for treatment. Blood banks too are running dry. While government hospitals — Victoria, Bowring and Vani Vilas — don't have adequate stock, most private blood banks such as Lions Blood Bank and Rashtrothana Blood Bank are also on the same boat.
M. Vignesh, working with the Lions Blood Bank, confirmed the situation. “We don't have sufficient quantity of platelets. About 100 units are required everyday, but we have only 60 per cent. We have no other option but to ask patients to go to other blood banks,” he said.
According to Nanda Kishore, chief of M.S. Ramaiah Hospital's blood bank, there has been a shortage for the last two months. “We are able to supply only 60 to 70 units. This is affecting the patients because they are not getting blood on time,” he said.
However, B.G. Tilak, Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital, denied any shortage in his institution. “We have adequate stock of platelets for our patients. In case there is a shortage, we ask them to get a donor and process the platelets,” he said.
As platelets are procured from whole blood, patients are being asked to get donors from the same blood group after which blood banks process the platelets. This has to be done double quick due to the short shelf life of the platelets.
Calling donors
This shortage has forced hospitals and patients to scout around for donors. As Mr. Nanda Kishore put it: “People have to come forward to donate blood during a time of crisis. Even if one per cent of the city's population donates blood once a year, we can overcome the shortage. The media too should create awareness.”
Bowring Hospital officials could not agree more. “We're facing a shortage of platelets. But we've been able to manage, thanks to donors who are pouring in to donate blood,” said an employee.
