Hyderabad :- In a bold move, Telangana’s Drugs Control Administration (DCA) revoked the licenses of two Hyderabad-based blood banks on Monday, 19 February. The action came following the discovery of their involvement in an underground plasma collection racket.
The Srikara Hospital Blood Centre at Madinaguda, Miyapur, and the New Life Educational Society Blood Centre at Darulshifa were the establishments facing the heat from the DCA’s punitive measures. This crackdown was a result of a recent raid in Moosapet on 2 February, where a clandestine plasma collection racket was unearthed.
During the raid at Haemo Service Laboratories in Moosapet, DCA officers discovered a stash of human plasma bags stored in freezers. The plasma, collected from various blood banks, was intended for unauthorized sales.
The DCA’s Director General, VB Kamalasan Reddy, stated, “DCA officers found that Srikara Hospital Blood Bank and New Life Educational Society Blood Centre illegally sold plasma to R Raghavendra Naik of Haemo Service Laboratories, not adhering to the norms.”
Prompt action ensued as DCA officers raided the implicated blood banks, confirming the illegal transactions with Haemo Service Laboratories. Show cause notices were issued to the Srikara Hospital Blood Centre and New Life Educational Society Blood Centre post-inspections.
The DCA emphasized the importance of proper plasma collection and storage, highlighting that plasma must be frozen within six hours of collection to maintain its integrity. Plasma must be stored in freezers at temperatures below -30°C to prevent degradation.
The DCA’s decisive action reflects its commitment to maintaining the integrity of blood banking practices and ensuring public health safety. Violators will face stringent legal action.
Human plasma plays a crucial role in medical treatments, including clotting disorders, immunodeficiency disorders, and critical conditions like severe burns. The illegal sale of plasma poses serious risks to public health and must be met with strict regulatory measures, as seen in this case.
