Relatives of Puja Devi (30), a pregnant woman from Giridih district suffering from excessive bleeding since Tuesday at the gynaecological ward of Patliputra Medical College and Hospital here, were terrified because the blood bank at the government hospital has almost run dry for the last one week.

Their were a bit relieved on Wednesday when they met Ankit Rajgarhia, a social worker from Kendua, who promised to donate one unit of A+ blood to her on Thursday.

However, many other patients are running from pillar to post with the district’s lone government medical college and hospital almost out of blood. On Wednesday morning, the bank had just eight units of blood.

PMCH blood-bank in charge Dr A.K. Singh admitted the crisis. “We are somehow managing at present by providing the contact numbers of blood donors’ organisation members to patients and their relatives in need of blood, who call the blood donors as per need to provide the blood to needy patients,” he said.

“We have a daily requirement of around 50 units of blood,” he explained. “Though we have an installed capacity of 900 units, we usually keep a stock of around 250 to 300 units. The stock in our bank entirely depends on voluntary donation and unfortunately no blood donation camp was held in May.”

He said the hospital expected the situation to improve by June 14, when a blood donation camp will be organised by the Bengali Welfare society. Another camp will be organised by the Friendship Society on June 24.

“A large number of engineering-college students like IIT (ISM) and BIT Sindri are bulk donors and with the hostels vacant during the summer vacation the blood bank also goes dry,” Singh said.

He said the hospital authorities encourage blood donation by felicitating donors and donors’ organisations at an annual event.

In March, the PMCH had faced a similar crisis. The IIT (ISM) students organised a mega blood donation camp at the health centre on campus on March 31, during which 350 units were donated. Of that, 188 units were provided to the PMCH and the rest was given to the Asian Jalan Memorial Hospital. The same day, the Bengali Welfare Society donated 55 units.

“All private hospitals and nursing homes are also required to organise camps but such camps are not held,” said Gopal Bhattacharya, secretary, Bengali Welfare Society. “We will demand that the health department tighten the noose on private hospitals in this regard.”