Four months after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration had inspected and cleared the way for a blood bank at Holy Family Hospital at Bandra, the blood bank is yet to open its doors. The Hospital authorities seem to have no idea why.

Earlier in January 2003, after having conducted the necessary inspection and technicality detection, the state FDA had recommended the hospital to incorporate a few changes, which were done by the Hospital.

But after completing the necessary changes and getting the final approval from the Maharashtra FDA, the blood bank could not get started as this time it had to await for a final authorization from the drug control authorities in New Delhi.

When contacted, Dr M Venkateshwarlu, Deputy Drug Controller, Western India, said that the his department had already given a clearance in January 2003. Thereafter the reason for the delay was not known. "We had inspected the place and had suggested the necessary changes that the hospital blood bank had to incorporate. After that, we even certified the blood bank and gave them a renewal license from the year 2002 to 2006. We do not understand why the approval is lagging behind," he said.

Normally it takes about four weeks for a blood bank to seek registration and approval to get started. While the registration from Maharashtra FDA enables the blood bank to carry out the regular activities, the component separation aspect of it cannot be undertaken unless fully certified by the DCGI from Delhi, states Dr Venkateshwarlu.

According to him, in this case, it is still not clear whether the file has been released from the Maharashtra office or whether there is some lapse in the Delhi office of the DCGI. "I would be personally probing the case to see if there is any misunderstanding from our department or why are the authorities at the end going slow on the approval", asserted Dr. Venkateshwarlu.

"I would see to it that the blood bank gets functional at the earliest", assured Dr Venkateshwarlu.