Tripura Facing Blood Shortage

Plans are underway to expand this infrastructure to all sub-divisional hospitals in the near future.

Amid a growing shortage of blood in state blood banks, Tripura Chief Minister and Health Minister Dr. Manik Saha has urged the people, particularly the youth, to come forward and voluntarily donate blood to maintain an adequate and sustainable supply.

Speaking to reporters at a voluntary blood donation camp organized by the Tripura State Blood Transfusion Council (TSBTC) in Agartala, Dr. Saha termed the crisis as temporary and emphasized the critical need for timely blood donations, highlighting that blood cannot be stored indefinitely and surplus units often go to waste if not used within a specific time frame.

“There are always possibilities of a blood crisis due to several reasons. It is important to maintain a balance between demand and supply,” said Dr. Saha, also the Health Minister.

He informed that all eight districts and few subdivisions in Tripura are equipped with blood banks, including component separators that allow efficient use of whole blood by separating it into red cells, plasma, and platelets as per patient requirements. Plans are underway to expand this infrastructure to all sub-divisional hospitals in the near future.

The Chief Minister commended the people of Tripura for actively participating in blood donation drives and expressed gratitude to all donors for their selfless contributions. “We will further enhance the blood bank network to ensure better accessibility,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of consistent blood collection, Dr. Saha stated that Tripura, with a population of around 40 lakh, requires a minimum blood reserve of 1 percent of its population. “We achieved this target last year,” he added with pride.

Tripura currently ranks among the top states in the country in terms of blood donation ratio to population.

The event was also attended by Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, Director of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicine Dr. Anjan Das, and GB Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Shankar Chakraborty.

Also Read: Lack of Co-Cordination Among Agencies Hindering Development Work: Tripura CM

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