Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets

Risha Chitlangia, TNN, Sep 25, 2010, 02.04am IST

Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WzYIXYq

NEW DELHI: With surging dengue cases in the capital the demand for platelets has increased by 10 fold. And to meet the increasing demand, blood banks in the city claim they are organizing more and more blood donation camps. Meanwhile, 95 fresh dengue cases were reported on Thursday taking the tally to 2631.

"The demand for platelets has increased. We usually make 12-14 platelets everyday, but for the last one-and-a-half months we have been making 200-300 platelets everyday. Majority of the platelets is given to patients suffering from dengue,'' said a senior official with Indian Red Cross.

Most hospitals in the city have their own blood bank, still independent blood banks are flooded with requests for platelets. "All government hospitals have blood banks, but we still get a large number of requests for platelets from patients admitted in these hospitals. We are organizing voluntary blood donation camp everyday and are collecting 300-350 units of blood. We make 100 units of platelets everyday,'' said Dr Anju Verma, in-charge of Rotary blood bank.

Government hospitals too say that the demand for platelets is high. "Usually, our requirement is 80 units, but now it has increased to 150-200 units. There is definitely an increase in dengue cases,'' said Dr D K Sharma, medical superintendent, AIIMS.

Blood banks say the biggest problem they are facing is of arranging platelets for people with negative blood groups. "B negative person can be given platelets extracted from the blood donated by a B positive person, as platelets don't have Rh factor. But doctors often demand for platelets of the same blood group. Negative blood group is rare. Only 7% of the population has negative blood group. It is only then do we ask people to get their own donors,'' said a red cross official.

Though those admitted in government hospitals don't have to pay for platelets, people are forced to arrange from outside due to shortage in some such hospitals. "People have to pay a minimum of Rs 1,000 per unit of platelet. In a platelet transfusion which increases the count by 25,000 one needs at least six units. Single donor platelets cost anywhere between Rs 8,500 and Rs 13,000,'' said a senior doctor with GTB hospital.



Read more: Blood shortage: Hospitals running out of platelets - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Blood-shortage-Hospitals-running-out-of-platelets/articleshow/6622955.cms#ixzz10WzPF7uY