Mumbai: 80 blood donation camps organised to mark PM Modi’s birthday, experts worry wastage

The Government of India has asked states and Union Territories to collect 1 lakh units of blood on PM’s birthday. Representation pic

Experts have raised concerns over about 80 blood donation camps to be organised in the city on Saturday to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. They say the collection of blood at a mass scale will lead to wastage. Expecting a similar non-productive outcome, the State Blood Transfusions Council (SBTC) has asked the blood banks to hold their camps in a staggered manner.

The Centre has directed the states and union territories to collectively garner close to 1 lakh units on September 17. It has also said that the drive should continue till October 1. A senior SBTC official said, "We have requested blood banks to schedule camps as per their requirement and not under the pressure."

Also read: Mumbai: Hundreds of units of blood wasted at civic hospitals

Citing medical reasons, the SBTC official said a donor cannot give blood for the next three months. If donors come forward on a mass scale on a particular date, it might trigger a blood shortage as blood can't be stored for that long.

A doctor from a BMC hospital said, "It is wrong to use blood donation camps for propaganda or events like birthdays. Mega camps can lead to huge wastage and subsequent blood shortage. No more than 25 camps should take place in a day and 75-100 donors for each camp will be enough." SBCT head Dr Arun Throat was not available for comment.