The two-day inspections of blood banks in Hyderabad and districts in the State taken up by the Drug Control Administration (DCA) concluded on Wednesday, with the regulating authority issuing notices to 109 blood banks out of 139 inspected, for various deficiencies. All major private and State-run blood banks in Hyderabad and districts in Telangana will be receiving notices in the coming days for a host of violations.

The violations, for which the notices were served, include understaffing, inadequate doctors, technical manpower, improper logging, incorrect record of donations and sale and improper maintenance of various statutory records.

Some of the other violations of the blood banks include overpricing of the whole blood and its components, poor equipment maintenance, improper storage conditions, unhygienic conditions, non-maintenance of prescribed temperature of storage of blood and absence of sterility testing.

According to the Director, DCA, Akun Sabharwal, in the next four days, notices will be issued to all the blood banks for violations recorded by the drug inspectors, who inspected the facility. Each blood bank will be given seven working days to respond and rectify and violations

“If the DCA is not satisfied by the action of the blood banks, the licence will be suspended and the blood bank will be shut down. Blood is a life-saving product. Ensuring its safety, quality and fair price, therefore, is a key responsibility of the DCA,” Dr. Sabharwal said.