The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) recently issued a show cause notice to Yash Raj Pathological Lab for conducting blood tapping and collection activities without any requisite license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (D&C). This raid was part of an initiative taken by the state drug authorities to check any discrepancies, if any, being practised in the state in violation of the D&C Act.

Gujarat FDCA have already notified the lab to stop all its activities and have initiated further procedure against them. Following the raid it was found that Dhanara based Yashraj Pathological Lab which is situated in Banaskantha district was allegedly involved in tapping, collection and supply of blood in its lab facility without any license from the government.

The drug authorities recovered six stored blood units along with 60 empty blood bags with anti-coagulant solutions in it. According to Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA, “Under the law only an authorised licensed holder can do blood collection, storage and supply of blood otherwise it is presumed to be against law and thus is punishable. Our main objective is to ensure that all the rules are followed properly and that no one suffers due to such negligence.”

He informed that there is no license required for conducting any pathological test in the country. As the only requirement for managing a laboratory is that it should be headed and supervised by a qualified person who is either a MD in pathology or a masters in science. They are required to have knowledge pertaining to basic instrumentation and procedures required for the practice of pathology in the community and at all levels of health care system.

Dr Koshia states, “However, Yash Raj Lab was involved in the activities that were far beyond its limits not only where they doing it illegally they where also endangering the lives of the people by collecting and supplying blood with out proper measures.”

In a recent development the Gujarat FDCA gave a clean chit to the Junargad city hospital by allowing them to continue with the blood collection activities. Dr Koshia informed that following the show cause notice issued to the hospital, they had replied and complied to all the queries raised by the authorities.

The hospital was recently embroiled in a controversy over the report of 20 kids contracting with HIV during transfusions from the hospital. He informed that as the regulatory authority in the state,  Gujarat FDCA has always ensured to take all possible measures to stop any illegal activities and bring them to light.

As of today, Gujarat has around 67 blood storage facilities and 150 fully functioning blood banks in the state that are licensed under the Act.