17 October,2021 08:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
The blood bank at Bhabha Hospital currently has only one permanent technician. File pic
Even as the BMC has shortlisted six peripheral hospitals to start its Diplomate of National Board (DNB) courses from June next year, it appears to have not paid heed to the vacant medical and technical posts to ensure smooth functioning of its existing peripheral hospital setup, including the blood banks, which otherwise should be operational round the clock, but currently isn't.
The blood bank at the 436-bedded civic run KB Bhabha Hospital, Bandra West, has not been operational during night hours for the last few years, making it doubly challenging to procure blood for emergency surgeries that take place in the early hours.
Sources attached to the hospital claim that of the 14 pathology technicians available at Bhabha Hospital, five have the required Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) certificates, which is mandatory to run the blood bank. However, the hospital has still not made any adjustments of its technical staff to keep the blood bank operational. The hospital administration said that the laboratory staff cannot be made to run the blood bank, as they are already overburdened.
The hospital's blood bank has previously run into problems with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and was also briefly sealed for running the centre without a Blood Transfusion Officer (BTO). The post, however, hasn't been filled as yet. "Many major civic-run hospitals in Mumbai do not have BTOs⦠Bhabha doesn't even have a full-time Medical Superintendent," said the source.
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When contacted, Dr Sanjay Patil, acting Medical Superintendent at the hospital confirmed that their blood bank was operational only in two shifts from 8 am till 9 pm in the night, and that they have a shortage of staff.
"At present, we have only one permanent technician in the blood bank and two contract technicians, a nurse and a clerk. Ideally, we need three BTOs, six technicians and one dedicated social worker other than having nurses and clerks to keep the blood bank functional through the day. We have placed a request before higher authorities and we are awaiting a sanction for the required posts," Dr Patil explained.
For emergency cases, the hospital has tied up with two trust-run blood bank - Mahatma Gandhi Blood Bank, Bandra West, and Criti Care Blood Bank in Juhu. "We also arrange for blood from JJ Hospital's blood bank, and other hospitals."
Incidentally, he said that a team from the Organisation and Methodology Department of BMC General Administrative Department had inspected the blood bank and filed a report stating that the existing staff for the blood bank was sufficient and there was no need to create vacancies.
Suresh Kakani, Additional Commissioner (Health), BMC, said, "We are going ahead with our already approved master plan to start DNB courses. Once the infrastructure is ready and the course is conducted in full stretch, we will be able to cater to blood banks and ensure that they have the required technical manpower to keep it operational round the clock. We have also observed that emergency surgeries during night hours at Bhabha Hospital are very few."
