With the target of setting up 39 district-level blood banks (DLBB) during the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme during the 11th Plan period still not fulfilled, the Department of AIDS Control will take up the matter of licencing issue with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).

As per the latest updates, 28 DLBBs become operational by the end of the March last year. For early functioning of the remaining 11 DLBB spread in different states, communications have been sent to State Health Secretaries to remove the bottlenecks in setting up of these blood banks immediately. Communication has also been sent to the CDSCO to expedite the issuance of pending licenses, sources said.

“The matter is being perused with the states. The matter of issuance of license to these DLBB will be taken up with the DCG(I) after the infrastructure facilities are made available by the State Government on priority basis,” sources added.

The Parliamentary standing committee on health has recently taken up the matter in its report. “The Committee is not satisfied with languid pace of the progress made for setting up of 11 DLBBs out of 39 DLBB which was a target of phase-III of NACP. Most of the reasons cited in this regard seem purely procedural. The Committee would like the Department to sort out the hurdles in this regard so that appropriate result can come out. The Department should also consider providing appropriate additional funds, if required, for infrastructure and manpower related matters so that there is no delay due to financial constraints,” the report by the panel said.

Blood banks are under the regulatory control of the State Drug control authorities as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Blood banks cannot function without a licence, which is issued by the state authorities following approval of the DCGI. Licensing issue was cited as one of the reasons for the delay in setting up the banks.

The Department sources said it had taken up the initiative to set up a core committee in the states with representatives from the state drug control authorities, blood bank experts and representatives of state AIDS control societies/ State blood transfusion councils to periodically inspect the blood banks to monitor their conformance to existing policy guidelines and regulations.