Mumbai: Blood banks send out SOS over extra units

Some officials from these four blood banks said the reason behind the excess stock is less demand, while some cited events held for blood donation. Representation pic

Four blood banks in Maharashtra have reported an excess of 681 units of blood in their stock, which is almost 3/4th of the daily requirement of blood in Mumbai. If not distributed soon it will expire in 3-4 weeks.

From time-to-time the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has directed blood banks across Maharashtra to collect blood as per the average demand, so there is no shortage or excess blood that might get wasted. These four blood banks have informed the SBTC of the excess blood stock and want to give them to those who require it.

Akshay Blood Bank from Satara has 140 units of blood. Siddheshwar Blood Bank from Solapur has 200 units. The Dnyandeep Blood Bank of Natepute in Solapur has 300 units while D.G Goenka's Blood Bank in Andheri has around 41 units.

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Some officials from these blood banks said the reason behind the excess stock is less demand, while some cited events held for blood donation. They also said that they don't want the blood wasted, so they wrote to SBTC informing it of the extra stock, as the council can let all blood banks across the state know of it. The blood will expire in 3 to 4 weeks.

An official from a government blood bank said, "Many blood banks in rural Maharashtra might be in need of blood but might be facing problems in transportation or maintenance of cold chain or temperature. The SBTC should come forward to resolve such issues." An official from SBTC said, "We have informed all blood banks across the state and if anyone wants they can contact these four blood banks."