Blood shortage hits Muktsar Civil Hospital, only eight units in stock

The blood bank at the Civil Hospital here is currently left with just eight units of blood in the stock. The hospital authorities are now looking to neighbouring towns for help, hoping to procure more units and sustain emergency services.

Dr Arpandeep Singh Brar, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Muktsar Civil Hospital, confirmed the shortage, saying, “It is a fact that only eight blood units are currently available at the blood bank. We expect to collect 100 units at a blood donation camp to be held in Faridkot district soon.”

Meanwhile, Deepak Garg, a founder member of Jai Babe Di Blood Sewa Society, an award-winning local volunteer group, blamed the hospital staff’s attitude for the current crisis.

“We used to donate and arrange blood for the hospital’s blood bank, but have stepped back due to the behaviour of some staff members. Our society has donated thousands of blood units, but when a blood unit is needed for any patient, the staff shows an indifferent attitude,” he alleged.

Responding to the concerns, the SMO assured that he would personally look into the matter. “If there are any issues between the blood bank staff and donor societies, I will make sure these are resolved at the earliest,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources claimed that the single donor platelet concentrate (SDPC) machine was also lying defunct at the hospital. An SDP unit is available for Rs 8,500 at a government blood bank, but it costs Rs 11,200 at a private facility.

Meanwhile, a local resident whose relative needed blood on Friday, said, “There was insufficient stock in the blood bank. We were told to arrange a donor so that the bank could give a unit of the required blood group for our patient in exchange.”

Punjab