India, March 13 -- The Maharashtra public health department has now linked all blood banks in the state to the central government's e-RaktKosh portal to ease the struggle of patients and their kin battling to find blood and blood components, the officials said on Wednesday.

This will ensure real-time updates on blood availability and donation camps, making it easier for patients in need of life-saving serum. The e-RaktKosh centralised blood bank management system was started by the Union Health Ministry in April 2016.

Prakash Abitkar, State health minister, has taken the initiative to implement this system, which is expected to be a great relief for patients suffering from thalassemia, haemophilia, sickle cell disease, cancer, and other...