Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 19 July 2025
The Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), Mr. TSG Bhasker, has raised serious concerns over the acute shortage of staff at the Blood Bank of G.B. Pant Hospital in Port Blair.
In a letter addressed to the Director of Health Services, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bhasker highlighted that the lack of technical and support personnel is severely affecting the daily functioning of the blood bank. He pointed out that routine procedures such as blood collection, screening, component separation, and timely issuance of blood units are being delayed as a result.
“Even emergency services during night hours are severely hampered due to lack of medical personnel,” Mr. Bhasker noted in the letter.
He further stated that the situation becomes even more critical during blood donation drives, which require at least five to six staff members for smooth conduct. However, when staff members are sent out for such camps, the in-house operations of the blood bank are left under immense strain.
“Despite the dedication and best efforts of the existing staff, the hospital’s blood bank is under immense pressure, and the current situation is unsustainable,” he added.
Urging the administration to act swiftly, Mr. Bhasker called upon the Health Department to take immediate and decisive steps to resolve the staffing crisis on a priority basis.
