The blood banks of the city have been hit and facing shortage as there are no blood donation camps in the city due to social isolation as a result of which the blood banks are unable to maintain stocks. Blood banks, both government and private, have reported a shortage of AB negative and AB positive blood. Indore has been under complete lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.
There is only one government blood bank in the district at MY Hospital, which is left with three to five units of blood of each group. It ran short of AB positive and AB negative. It has to supply blood to the district hospital, PC Sethi, MY Hospital, polyclinics community health centres in the district.
Officials from the blood bank explained that the blood bank is struggling to maintain stocks because, amidst lockdown and corona scare, volunteers are not turning up for donation. The officials stated that there is a shortage of AB positive and negative blood groups while others are available in very small quantity.
They are trying on their own to pursue donors to come to the hospital for donating blood. Around 25 donors were called on Wednesday and an ambulance was arranged for them.
Other than this, the one at Choithram hospital which is considered to be one of the largest private blood banks in the city has also reported a shortage of AB positive blood. It has preserved two to three units each of negative blood groups. The doctor who is in charge of blood bank stated that they are managing the load. Normally, they have a donation of 700 units per month and supply of 1000-1200 units of blood per month.
Now, 10-15 volunteer donations are coming, which is equivalent to the requirement because all routine surgeries have been stopped because of COVID-19 lockdown. There is a shortage of AB negative blood. However, demand is very less.
