Bengaluru Blood Banks Struggle Amid Dengue Surge
Bengaluru’s private blood banks are facing a critical shortage as the city’s dengue cases surge to about 200 daily. The post-Covid decline in blood donations—down by 10-15%—has exacerbated the problem. Contributing factors include the shift to work-from-home arrangements in multinational corporations (MNCs), health concerns among potential donors, and an increase in blood donor rejections.
Sridhar from Red Cross reported that the demand for platelets has soared to 40-50 units per day, while only 15-20 units are being supplied. Blood collection dropped from 37,000 units in 2019 to just 26,000 in 2023, with only 15,000 units collected in the first seven months of 2024. The rise of private blood banks with mobile facilities has also affected collections. MNCs have been a major source of donations, but their shift to hybrid work models has reduced participation.
Chandrashekar R from Rashtrotthana Blood Centre highlighted difficulties in meeting demand for single-donor platelets (SDP), with only 30-40 out of 60-70 requests being fulfilled. Deepak from Lion’s Blood Bank noted that donor rejections are high, with many unable to donate due to health issues developed post-Covid. The usual collection of 20,000-22,000 units annually has dropped to around 8,000 units, and the daily demand has surged from 20-30 to 70-80 units. The situation remains challenging as blood banks navigate increased demand amid the ongoing monsoon season.