Rayagada: A severe blood shortage has been reported in the district. The demand for blood increases during the summer, but with an inadequate supply, blood bank staff are growing increasingly concerned. Blood storage facilities exist in Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital, as well as in the sub-divisional hospitals at Bissamcuttack and Gunupur.
However, due to the limited availability of blood, patients and their families are facing significant difficulties.
At present, the Odisha Blood Centre at the District Headquarters Hospital in Rayagada has only 182 units of blood in stock. Among these:
‘O’ Positive: 74 units
‘A’ Positive: 52 units
‘B’ Positive: 21 units
‘AB’ Positive: 35 units
There is no stock of negative blood types.
Each month, the district requires between 500 to 700 units of blood. During the months of April, May, and June, this requirement exceeds 700 units, according to departmental sources.
Last year, the district blood bank provided 6,251 units of blood to patients. This year, the Health Department estimates that this number will reach 6,500 units.
Patients suffering from Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease have the highest demand for blood. Often, in emergency situations, blood is not available, exposing a critical shortage. Despite this, there are accusations that the district health administration has not taken adequate steps to address the crisis.
Many volunteers are willing to donate blood, but due to the lack of properly organized camps in appropriate locations, they are unable to contribute. On the other hand, several private hospitals from Andhra Pradesh are reportedly organizing mega blood donation camps in the district, collecting hundreds of units, and transporting them illegally to Andhra Pradesh.
As per the law, no blood donation camp can be organized without the permission of the Chief District Medical Officer, and blood cannot be supplied to private medical institutions. Yet, this rule is being openly violated, with blood being misappropriated under the guise of donation camps, resulting in a serious shortage in the district.
Intellectuals and citizens have demanded immediate attention from the district administration to control this situation.