Blood Bank in SMCH returns donor after making him run around for hours

If there is an emergency service that needs to be prompt it is the Blood Bank. Since the last few months, the Blood Bank in Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) has come under immense criticism. Most of the time, the administration rubbished the critics by alleging that they have a vested interest.

Yesterday, Mohitosh (Ashu) Paul renowned as one of the biggest ambassadors of the voluntary blood donation revolution in Barak Valley had an experience that exposes the loopholes in the Blood Bank. Another name got added to the list of critics. Paul went with a donor to the Blood Bank and had to return without being able to donate. The complexities added to the process forced him to run around the entire hospital several times.

Paul said, he had gone to the Blood Bank with a donor as a patient admitted to the Gynaecology ICU needed blood. The donor is employed at a private firm and therefore, they could only reach by noon. On their way to the Blood Donor’s bed, they were stopped twice. “At the first security gate, we were told that only the donor can proceed. However, after explaining several possibilities to the guard and pleading for 5 – 7 minutes, they allowed both of us to proceed to the second gate where the guards asked for documents. When we furnished the requisition form, they asked for the Covid test report. We did not have that with us and so, almost got insulted by the guard,” informs Ashu Paul.

Blood donors are respected worldwide as life saviours. But in Silchar Medical College and Hospital, according to Paul, they are sent from post to pillar. They had to go all the way to the Trauma Centre from Blood Bank to get the Rapid Antigen Test done. 11th in the queue, Paul and the donor had to wait for their turn. “We were asked for card. When we asked what card, they said we have to get a registration card from registration counter. We reached the counter at 2:03 pm and it was shut though we could see staff inside. After seeking help, one responded and asked what did we want. We informed that we needed a card to get Covid test done as it was essential to donate blood. They informed that the counter is shut and we must approach an ward to get the tests done,” adds Paul.

Along with the donor, he went to Medicine Ward which was shut, stopped by Orthopaedics Ward to find the gates shut and then returned to the registration counter again. “We were then told to proceed to the Casualty, where we can get the test done. All the way back to the Casualty near the Trauma Centre, we finally got the test done. By the time we got the report and reached Blood Bank, it was 3:10 pm. 15 – 16 donors were waiting in the queue. No chairs to sit, tired of waiting, donors started to roll on the floor. With three still ahead of us, the counter was shut. We had to return,” informs Paul.

He is not the only one, there are many donors like him who are forced to return. Dr. Rajib Biswas, in charge of the Blood Bank in SMCH did not speak with Barak Bulletin’s correspondent. As soon as the journalist introduced himself, Dr. Biswas disconnected the call and following attempts remained unanswered.

It is worth mentioning here that people aware of the affairs in Blood Bank appreciate a lot of efforts put in by Dr. Biswas. Brokers used to run a parallel business in and around the Blood Bank which Dr. Biswas in close coordination with Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, Principal of SMCH managed to stop. It was alleged that the staff in SMCH ask for cash in exchange of blood before Biswas took over. Such allegations are few and far now. However, nothing justifies the pain that the donor had to undergo.

If testing for Covid is compulsory, can’t the samples be tested at the Blood Bank itself. Shouldn’t the blood bank provide chairs for the donors to sit and wait. There are many questions that remains unanswered.