The Drug Control Administration swung into action in Visakhapatnam against blood banks operating in violation of norms and without proper licences. Of the 20 blood banks in the city, only eight have valid licences issued by the DCA. The rest are illegal traders of blood and are charging exorbitant amounts, sometimes up to Rs 1,000 for 350 ml of blood against the normal rate of Rs 550. Even those blood banks with licences are functioning without proper facilities.

Following the surprise raids the licence of one blood bank is being suspended, while three banks near the Collectorate and Chengalraopet have been served with notices. A few others have been told to rectify their shortcomings.

A major hospital was warned of action for running a blood bank without a valid licence. Another bank got the notice for shifting the premises without informing the DCA. One bank was operating from three places, though it had licence to function from only one place. Some of the blood banks violated norms in various other ways. They have to correct themselves within 15 days, failing which their licences could be suspended.

On the issue of unauthorised blood donation camps, held by authorised blood banks, the officials had directed them to send details on the units collected, where the camp was conducted, how many HIV cases were found and such other details. Licence has to be obtained to collect blood during a camp. However, nearly 50 per cent of the camps organised by political parties and non-government organisations at schools, panchayat buildings and roadside tents do not have licences.

The DCA issues licence after inspecting the premises of the blood banks. As per the norms, the proposed bank should have facilities in a minimum area of 1000 sq ft with four air-conditioners. The blood banks can operate only from the premises for which the licence is given. Besides the infrastructure, the blood banks must have facilities for testing the blood.

If some officials are to be believed, the blood collected from camps held by several organisations during the Kargil war did not reach the soldiers. The blood was sold in the city. According to a member of a blood donors club, the entire requirement of blood for the Kargil soldiers were met by West Bengal and Maharashtra and nobody sent blood to Kargil war soldiers from Andhra Pradesh.

Yet another anomaly lies in the blood collection bags which are supposed to be supplied only to licenced banks. But they are available in any medical shop. Restriction on the sale of blood bags was to check illegal collection of blood.