Blood banks cancel collection camps as BMC delays vehicle approvals

Mumbai: The BMC blood banks in the city had to cancel their planned collection camps at the last moment, as the additional municipal commissioner (health) kept approvals for vehicles on hold for a prolonged duration. Blood bank officers said that, for the first time in many years, there were cancellations, and the situation could lead to a shortage of blood in the city.DMC (health) Sharad Ughade said the intention behind putting the approvals on hold was to consolidate the requirements of all the hospitals and grant blanket permission for the next three years, allowing blood banks the autonomy to conduct camps as the need arises.
All of these camps required vehicles carrying the required equipment and manpower to travel to the outskirts of Mumbai. A senior blood bank officer at one of the four BMC-run hospitals said earlier it was as simple as sending a letter to the dean and leaving for collection early in the morning."Now, officers are asked to have written permission from AMC, who left us in the lurch," the officer said.The city requires between 1,000 and 1,400 units of blood daily to meet the needs of hospitals, surgeries, and patients with chronic blood disorders.A former social worker at KEM Hospital involved in blood collection said donors within the city are limited for over 50 blood banks. "Most of the blood donors are those who did it for years. But donation numbers dip as summer arrives."The blood banks had a relationship with donation camp organisers in areas like Panvel, who take a lot of effort in bringing forward donors. one such camp by KEM Hospital was cancelled mere days prior to collection. Another blood bank official from Nair Hospital said that they were in a similar situation this month. "All we require is 2 ambulance vehicles. one camp can bring 150 to 200 units of blood for the city. Their argument is that they do collection within Mumbai, but most of the blood donation camp organisers are from outside, who place a lot of trust in BMC hospitals."F-South corporator Sachin Padwal, in a letter BMC commissioner, said the situation could have dire consequences for patients. AMC (Health) Vipin Sharma remained unavailable for comment.