The drugs control department in Andhra Pradesh has started a major image building drive for the blood banks and blood storage centres in the state by launching regular and stringent inspections of these units. The reputation of blood banks in the state got badly tarnished after the alleged supply of HIV infected blood by one of the blood banks.

In April this year, a blood bank in Rajahmundri had allegedly supplied HIV infected blood to an injured police constable for transfusion. The incident did cause some public outcry and the enforcement agency started intensive inspections of all of them.

The department has formed a special team of 40 members to conduct inspections, and they have already undertaken raids in the blood supply units all over the state. The inspection was aimed at ensuring whether the blood bank units were operating with proper equipment like Elisa Readers, and complying the norms of Drugs & Cosmetics Act. Sources from the department said the state health department is formulating new guidelines for proper running of blood banks. The department has already started initiating actions against the violators.

There are 231 blood banks and 85 blood storage centres operating in various parts of the state. From any of these units, a patient can collect blood of his/ her required group at any time. In times of emergency, these units help the public with fast and efficient services, said R P Meena, director general of drugs control administration.

In May and June, 300 blood samples were taken from various units by the inspectors of the drugs control department, and according to senior officers, the samples were found negative. But the licence of the Jagruti Blood Bank in Rajahmundry town in coastal Andhra, from where the police constable was allegedly given the contaminated blood, was cancelled. However, the officers of the inspection team found that many blood banks were poorly maintained and violated the guidelines of the Drugs & Cosmetics Acts/Rules.

Apart from blood banks located in myriad cities, there are emergency services also. Emergency services from government units, voluntary organizations and Red Cross Societies are available for all the 24 hours of the day, Meena told Pharmabiz.

Out of the 231, 66 blood banks are run by the state government. The Red Cross Society has 36 units and private hospitals have 76. In addition to this, a number of Voluntary organizations are also conducting blood banks which number about 53, according to the director general. He said, as on May 30 this year, the number of stop production orders issued to blood banks is eight, blood banks not functioning are five, and the number of blood unit not available is 16.