Berhampur: In the wake of transfusion of contaminated blood into patients at the VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and the district headquarters hospital at Balasore, the health department has prepared a guideline for blood banks across the state.
However, the department is least concerned about the condition and infrastructure of the blood bank on MKCG Medical College and Hospital premises.
The blood bank is plagued by shortage of staff and lack of infrastructure. Official sources have it that the hospital’s blood bank has a transaction of over 26,000 units of blood per annum. Every day, at least 80 units of blood are transfused into patients.
The mother blood bank has its storage units at seven hospitals – Polsara, Kodala, Purushottampur, Aska, Khallikote, Chhatrapur and City Hospital. Every day, at least 50 units of blood are stored in the bank that has a capacity of storing at least 1,200 units.
Over 1000 thalassemia and sickle cell aenemia patients have registered their names to get blood from the bank. The hospital’s records have it that in the month of October last year, blood units were provided to 180 thalassemia, 42 sickle cell anaemia, three hemophilia patients and eight helpless people.
The blood units collected from various donation camps are put to test following NAT and ELISA methods to confirm that the units were not contaminated by HIV or hepatitis viruses. Though necessary equipment is available at the hospital’s blood bank, it lacks space to store them. There is also space crunch in the hospital to accommodate the blood bank’s staff.
The authorities had planned to expand the blood bank building a few days ago. A building in the upstairs of the blood bank has been lying half-constructed for over three years. The old structure has developed cracks at several places for lack of maintenance.
Out of the total 40 employees of the blood bank, over 90 per cent are working under the Indian Red Cross for meagre salaries ranging between `7,000 and `8000. They fail to focus on their jobs as they have to take up other assignments to add to their income.
Four doctors were appointed at the blood bank but they often play truant, it is alleged.
Locals alleged though the hospital has funds, it does not take any measures to complete the blood bank’s building. PNN
