Finding blood in Mumbai gets easier, 63 banks now go online

The 63 blood banks of Mumbai recently became a part of the national portal, which was created to connect, digitise and streamline the workflow of blood banks across the nation.

An online portal, e-Rakt Kosh, will now make your search for blood banks and availability of blood in the city easier.

Officials from the health ministry said that an app was also available. (HT)

The 63 blood banks of Mumbai recently became a part of the national portal, which was created to connect, digitise and streamline the workflow of blood banks across the nation.

The portal will inform patients and their relatives about availability of blood and blood donation camps across the city.

Officials from the health ministry said that an app was also available.

“We have been told to update the availability of stock, blood donation camp schedules and make people aware about the website and mobile application. More importantly, as we update the stock according to the demand and supply chain, patients will no longer have to run from one blood bank to another looking for a particular blood group or component,” said a blood transfusion officer from JJ Mahanagar Blood Bank.

The portal also allows donors to create their profile and maintain a data for donation, camp schedules, nearest blood banks etc. Moreover, donors can link their Aadhaar card to the profile which enables the government to make a list of certified donors for a certain blood group.

“The portal aims to block unhealthy or infected donors permanently. It also aims to generate a rare group register, maintain a register of regular donors who can be called in cases of emergency,” said another BTO from Shatabdi Hospital blood bank.

The portal was launched on April 7 on national level but the city blood banks were recently invited to be a part of the chain of 623 blood banks across the country.