87 districts in India have no blood bank

Blood is a crucial life-saver, however, up to 87 districts in India, have no blood banks. It is essential for each district in the country to have at least one blood bank. DNA accessed a list of 19 states comprising of 87 districts where no blood bank exists.

“Blood banks have never been built in these areas,” said a senior Health Ministry official. “Reasons behind the lack of blood banks in different districts vary,” he added.

Even the existing blood banks, some of them white elephants, are non-functional. Data reveals that of 1,050 public blood banks in India, only 74 per cent has basic functionality, and just 31 per cent has advanced blood separation component units.

Telangana, which tops the charts, does not have blood banks in 13 out of 31 districts. “It is a newly carved out state. The Centre and state are in the process of charting out construction plans,” said the official.

Next on the chart is Chattisgarh with as many as 11 out of 27 districts having no blood bank facilities. “Three new blood banks have been supported under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Surajpur, Jaspur and Jangger Chapa. It will take at least a year for their construction, …read more