Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has started a new initiative called the ‘Blood Express’. This is a special cycle used to deliver blood quickly from the blood bank to various departments within the hospital. The ‘Blood Express’ can transport blood in about seven minutes, making it a fast solution for emergencies.
The blood bank was recently moved to a new building in the hospital campus. This new system was introduced in April 2025 and allows blood to be sent to departments like surgery, medicine, emergency, and trauma care. These departments often need blood for surgeries and emergency treatments.
To ensure that there is always enough blood available, the blood bank keeps track of blood supplies carefully. The staff always prepares in advance for emergencies. They use a dedicated software system to manage blood requests efficiently. Doctors can send information about patients, including their ID and the type of blood needed, through SMS or WhatsApp to the blood bank.
This process helps avoid mistakes when delivering blood. Before giving blood, all details are double-checked to ensure patient safety. Sanjay Kapadia, a resident medical officer in the blood bank department, mentioned that while the use of cycles in transportation is decreasing, the ‘Blood Express’ helps deliver blood quickly and efficiently.
Previously, moving blood from one place to another took a lot of time. Now, with the ‘Blood Express’, the hospital employs around 14 runners who use cycles to transport blood. These runners are trained to respond quickly, especially in emergencies.
When blood is needed, runners can take immediate action based on the urgency of the situation. The blood bank ensures that all patient details are verified before any blood is given. The runners also maintain a ‘cold chain’ to keep the blood at the right temperature during transport.
The cycles help reduce the time it takes to deliver blood. While walking can take 15 to 20 minutes, using a cycle only takes about six to seven minutes. Runners are given up to ten minutes to deliver blood to the right place. The blood bank keeps a stock of O-negative blood, known as the ‘universal donor’ type, which is crucial as it can be safely given to anyone.
Each blood package is labelled with the patient’s details to ensure it reaches the correct department. This innovative ‘Blood Express’ initiative at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital is proving to be very helpful in providing timely blood supply to patients in need. The cycle-based delivery method is not only effective but also remarkable in its approach to hospital logistics.
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