Pune is facing a blood shortage ahead of Ganeshotsav, with private blood banks reporting that daily collection has fallen to around 800 units against an estimated requirement of 1,500 to 1,600 units across the city and district. At the same time, rising dengue and chikungunya cases have increased demand for platelet units.
The shortage has emerged over the past month as a large number of patients with seasonal illnesses have been reported in Pune. Private blood banks have said that their inventories have declined, while regular blood demand has increased by about 15 per cent.
Pune city and district currently have 53 registered blood banks. According to the information reported by Loksatta, the shortfall between daily requirement and collection has brought the available supply to nearly half of the usual need. Blood is also required for accident victims, surgical patients and people living with thalassemia, who need regular transfusions.
The demand for platelets has been particularly affected by the increase in dengue cases. A dengue patient may require between four and 10 platelet units, depending on medical need. Pune is currently seeing demand for approximately 200 to 300 platelet units a day, according to the report.
Platelets also present a supply-management challenge because their usable life is limited to five days. This means blood banks cannot build up a large reserve far in advance. Since blood cannot be manufactured in a laboratory, collection from healthy human donors remains the only source of supply.
The shortage has coincided with a period when blood donation camp planning and public awareness efforts are reportedly insufficient. As a result, relatives of patients are having to search for blood and platelet units, according to the report. Private blood banks are facing a significant deficit and have called for more people to come forward to donate.
Ram Bangad, founder of the voluntary organisation Raktache Nate, said that collective participation was needed to address the shortage. Community organisations and Ganeshotsav groups have traditionally played an important role in organising blood donation drives in Pune, according to Piyush Shah, president of Sainath Mitra Mandal.
Blood donation campaigns are typically organised during periods when shortages are anticipated, including October, the summer holidays and Diwali. This year, however, the shortage has developed ahead of Ganeshotsav, increasing pressure on blood banks while demand for platelets remains elevated. Community groups and organisers are being called upon to support additional donation efforts.
