Mumbai faces worst blood crisis since 2020, 3,000+ weekly donors needed; here's how you can help!

Mumbai is battling an alarming blood supply crisis, with current reserves plummeting to a precarious 5,325 units, scarcely sufficient to meet Mumbai's daily requirement of 1,000-1,400 units. Leading institutions, including KEM and Nair hospitals, are functioning at reduced capacity due to the shortage, while suburban facilities face even more dire circumstances. Bhabha Hospital in Bandra has completely exhausted its stocks, and centres like Sion and JJ Hospital are struggling with dangerously low inventories of under 25 units each.

This year's shortage has hit alarming levels, with summer donations dropping 40% below 2024 as colleges and offices pause drives. The crisis deepened after Maharashtra banned inter-state blood transfers in February, a first since 2021, severing 15% of Mumbai's usual supply.

Alarmingly, blood scams have jumped 65% this year, with families exploited by fake donors. Seasonal patterns persist:
• April-May: 30-35% donation drop
• Festivals: 25% collection decline

JJ Hospital's Dr. Rina Desai confirms this is Mumbai's worst summer shortage since 2020. Emergency measures include:
• 3x more workplace drives than 2024
• Round-the-clock camps in 15 suburbs
• Blockchain donor verification

Health professionals emphasise that Mumbai requires 12,000 more consistent donors to end recurring shortages. Noted haematologist Dr. Aman Verma described existing measures as superficial fixes, urging long-term preventive solutions.

In India, blood banks prioritise voluntary donations for a safe blood supply. While replacement donations (bringing a donor when requesting blood) are being phased out as per the National Blood Policy, some banks may still require them. Policies vary, so check with your blood bank beforehand. For details or to find blood banks, visit e-Raktkosh (Govt. of India’s portal).

Who can donate blood?

 Age & Weight: 18-65 years | Minimum 50 kg

Health Check:

• No active infections or transmissible diseases

• Normal body temperature (≤37.5°C)

• Pulse: 50-100/min (regular)

• Haemoglobin: ≥12.5 g/dL

• BP: Systolic (100-180 mmHg) | Diastolic (50-100 mmHg)

  Donation Gap:

• Men: Every 3 months

• Women: Every 4 months

Who cannot donate? 

Individuals with:

• HIV infection or a history of high-risk exposure to HIV

• Diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, and kidney issues

• Severe asthma or active symptoms

• Recent infections (TB, rabies, Hepatitis B vaccine in last 6 months)

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women (<6 months)

• Major surgery/dental work (<1 month)

• Alcohol intake history within the last 24 hours

(Data as per Ministry of Health, Government of India, please refer for detailed guidelines.)

You can donate at these approved blood banks in Mumbai:

• KEM Hospital (Parel)

• Nair Hospital (Mumbai Central)

• Rotary Blood Centre (Worli)

• Sion Hospital

• Bombay Hospital Trust Blood Bank (Marine Lines, Mumbai)

• Tata Memorial Hospital Blood Bank (Parel, Mumbai)

• Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Hospital Blood Bank (Sion, Mumbai)

• Bombay City Red Cross Blood Centre (Matunga, Mumbai)

Mumbai needs 3,000+ donors weekly to stabilise stocks. As Dr. Mohan Joshi of Sion Hospital warns that the situation goes beyond a medical concern and should be treated as a public emergency.

(For eligibility details, visit Maharashtra SBTC or call 1910 for assistance.)