Jaipur: Rajasthan’s Health Department, Wednesday, ordered intensified inspections of all govt, non-govt and private blood centres after repeated violations of safety and operational norms. Recent inspections led to suspension of 69 licences and cancellation of five, over serious violations.Dr T. Shubhamangala, commissioner drug control, said Rajasthan currently has 286 blood centres. Officials have been directed to inspect all govt blood centres by July 5 and initiate action wherever lapses are found. Centres failing to comply with prescribed standards may face suspension or cancellation of licences. In cases of serious irregularities, inspection teams have been told to recommend action to the Rajasthan Medical Council for cancellation of the registered doctor’s licence.“The order stresses strict compliance with standard operating procedures covering trained staff, documentation, safe blood collection, correct storage temperatures, quality checks and proper issue of blood to patients,” said a senior health department official.Inspection teams will assess the entire donation-to-issue chain, including donor selection, pre-donation counselling, recall and referral systems for reactive donors, and whether such donors are permanently removed from the donor pool. Centres will also be reviewed on efforts to reduce dependence on replacement donations and increase voluntary, non-remunerated regular donors with support from the State Blood Transfusion Council.The audit will verify valid licences and compliance with infrastructure, staffing, equipment and process requirements under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Centres must also follow National Blood Transfusion Council standards.
