Blood banks struggle to cope as dengue takes over city

Dr Savita, Head of Department of Blood Transfusion, GMCH, says high demand for platelets suggest the surge in the number of dengue cases compared to last two years.

“This year, we have seen more number of cases as compared to the last two years. With facilities like separation of blood into components like platelets extremely limited in the surrounding areas, the entire burden of demand shifts to Chandigarh.”

The doctor adds, “We have been able to meet the demand of patients and provide blood units to nursing homes as well, but the authorities must focus their attention on improving the facilities for collection and preparation of blood.”

A doctor at the PGI said: “The demand for units has definitely gone up since September and would last till November, when the cases gradually stop coming in the hospital wards. With no facilities of separating blood into components being available in the periphery areas, the burden on the city increases.”

“We still receive demand of platelets from nearly two new patients a day. The management of dengue cases becomes very crucial as platelets have to be extracted from freshly donated blood,” said Col R S Shah, director, Blood Bank Society, Sector 37.

Blood donation in numbers

The UT Health department so far claims that the city has reported over 40 cases of dengue this season while over 250 cases, detected in nearby towns and cities of Haryana and Punjab, have been reported in Chandigarh hospitals. At the end of October, the PGI still had 22 cases of dengue patients undergoing treatment.