Maharashtra Warns Blood Centres Against Over-Collection During Festivals

Mumbai: The State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has directed all blood centres across Maharashtra to exercise caution and avoid excess blood collection during the upcoming festival season.

Collections to Be Based on Historical Demand

In a circular issued by Assistant Director Dr. Purushottam Puri, the council noted that large-scale blood donation camps are usually organised by various social organisations during Independence Day, Ganeshotsav, Navratri, and other occasions.

Preventing Wastage of Precious Blood

The directive advises blood centres to plan collections in August, September, and October based on the average demand recorded over the past three years. Officials have been instructed to ensure that no surplus stock is collected, preventing the risk of expiry and wastage.

Previous Guidelines Reinforced

The council also urged centres to counsel organisers to schedule camps during periods of shortage instead of peak supply months. “Blood is precious and must not be wasted,” the circular stressed, calling for strict adherence to the guidelines.

Last month, SBTC had issued a similar circular to prevent over-collection and potential misuse or wastage of blood. The council had capped blood donation camps at 500 units per event. The directive was issued during a review meeting of SBTC, chaired by the Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare.

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Challenges in Government and BMC Blood Banks

“To address this, the SBTC has issued a circular enforcing the 500-unit cap per camp and has made it mandatory to seek prior online approval from the respective District Blood Transfusion Officer. If no response is received within three days, the permission will be considered as deemed approved,” stated Dr. Puri in the circular.

An official who is attached to one of the blood bank units in BMC hospital informed that one of the reasons of blood wastage in government and BMC-run blood banks is non-availability of component separation facilities in many hospitals.