The recent times in Mumbai have
been too good in terms of blood supply, it’s next to impossible to get
deficiency of any blood group (except the Bombay blood group) in any number of
units across Mumbai, at any particular time of day or night. What I went
through today was a bit shocking, it was never a question of replacement or
replacing the existing blood bottle with a donor but why would it be needed
when blood is available in huge stake everywhere in the city? Something I found
today in Tata Memorial Hospital today was shattering my beliefs on the system
existing in this world – are we full of demons masked with angelic masks???
24th
November, 2013 and I get a call from a girl saying I need B+ve blood and I got
your number from some person in Tata Memorial saying this guy can give you the
blood you need. I obliged immediately (never knew who the girl was and from
where she was). I replied back immediately saying the blood is been arranged
for (fresh one) and things are taken care of, just that she had to inform the
blood bank for the same. It was all fine till night. Next day, I been ill was
admitted so my phone was not with me. Hence this girl could not contact me in
the midst. What the blood bank authority said in the morning was, “We don’t
accept blood from other banks.” It was still fine, she managed to get people
from the hospital who had patients discharged earlier from the hospital and who
had arranged for same blood which was been unused for their patient but the
hospital denied to transfer the blood since they said this can’t be done as it
may be useful to the registered person in future. Not only this, these are the
exact words from the blood bank person to the patient’s daughter (16 years of
age only, Lucknow citizen and does not know anyone in Mumbai), “If you don’t
arrange for the blood then shayad tumhare operation mein problem aa jaaye. If
you don’t arrange for a donor, then shayad operation nab hi ho.”
Just
to clarify on this, blood from any bank is accepted across Mumbai, it is just
that there are a few hospitals to name like Tata who create such nuisances for
people who are in dire need, the reason been take out blood if you can get it.
It been clearly pushed ahead by social workers who work for the same cause that
if a blood bank refuses to accept blood in case of need then you can charge the
bank for the same. But again the patient’s family has to take this initiative
which in most cases isn’t happening since life is more important than setting
the system correct for every person. The worst in this case was when I enquired
and asked the Tata Blood Bank they said that they had enough quantity of B+ve
blood available in stock and I could take it from them when needed (I had asked
for 10 bottles).
It
is ok to ask for blood donors or replacement if it is available, people readily
give it to, but to trouble someone in need even if blood is available isn’t the
way out. Need to step up against this, not the first time I have come across
such cases in Mumbai, few have been registered and action was ensured as well,
but blood banks now are a question – ARE THEY SAVIOURS OR PROBLEM CREATORS.
Regards,
Abhijeet (Gladi).
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