Many government hospitals in Hyderabad are facing a shortage of blood supply. This is causing difficulties for patients who require transfusions. Although such shortages usually occur during the summer, this year’s situation is particularly challenging. The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), Narayanguda typically supplies 100 units of blood to most government hospitals across the city and state, including Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Niloufer hospital, Osmania, Gandhi, MNJ Cancer hospital, and others. However, it can only supply 70-80 units at present. IPM is currently only able to provide blood in emergency cases.
As a result of the paucity of blood from IPM, most government hospitals are conducting only emergency surgeries and deferring elective surgeries. The blood is being supplied to patients admitted in government hospitals on a case-by-case basis if it is urgently required. According to IPM sources, although the shortfall of blood supply is normal during summer, there is no need to panic yet.
Various factors are contributing to the shortage of blood in summer. Blood donation camps are not held in schools and colleges due to summer vacation, and fewer donors attend blood donation camps in IT offices as most employees are working in hybrid mode. Erratic weather has also led to the outbreak of seasonal flu, which has caused many people to refrain from donating blood as they must not donate for a minimum of two weeks after consuming antibiotics and other medicines.
The shortage of blood has left several hundred thalassemia and other blood disorder patients in a fix in the State. The reluctance or reduced turnout of people at blood banks for donation has also become a significant contributing factor to the ongoing challenge faced by government hospitals.
