DCA Cancels Licenses of Two Blood Banks for Illegal Sale of Human Plasma
The licenses of the Blood Banks 'Srikara Hospital Blood Centre' at Madinaguda, Miyapur, and 'New Life Educational Society Blood Centre' at Darulshifa, Hyderabad, have been cancelled by the Drugs Control Administration, in connection with the illegal plasma collection racket, which was busted at Moosapet on February 2, 2024.
Hyderabad: The licenses of the Blood Banks ‘Srikara Hospital Blood Centre’ at Madinaguda, Miyapur, and ‘New Life Educational Society Blood Centre’ at Darulshifa, Hyderabad, have been cancelled by the Drugs Control Administration, in connection with the illegal plasma collection racket, which was busted at Moosapet on February 2, 2024.
According to Drugs Control Administration Director General V.B. Kamalasan Reddy, IPS, on February 2, his officers, acting on a tip-off, raided ‘Haemo Service Laboratories’ operating in a residential building Door No. 11-5-176, Bhavani Nagar, Moosapet, Hyderabad. During the raid, the DCA officers detected a huge stock of human plasma bags stored in freezers. R. Raghavendra Naik has been operating the firm within the apartment, illegally collecting plasma from various blood banks and stockpiling them for sale in an unauthorized manner.
DCA officers found that ‘Srikara Hospital Blood Bank’ in Mythri Nagar, Madinaguda, Miyapur, Ranga Reddy District and the ‘New Life Educational Society Blood Centre’ at Abid Ali Khan Lions Eye Hospital, Darulshifa, illegally sold plasma to R. Raghavendra Naik of Haemo Service Laboratories, not adhering to the norms.
DCA officers immediately raided Srikara Hospital Blood Centre (a unit of Venkateshwara Ortho Health Care Pvt. Ltd.), situated at D.No.222 & 223, 5th floor, Mythri Nagar, Phase-II, Madinaguda, Miyapur, and New Life Educational Society Blood Centre, situated at D. No. 22-1-1038, First floor, Abid Ali Khan Lion Eye Hospital, Darulshifa, and confirmed the illegal sale of plasma to ‘Haemo Service Laboratories’ upon verification.
At the blood banks, plasma is separated from whole blood, collected from donors, through a process called ‘plasmaphereses. After collection, it must be frozen within six hours to preserve its integrity. Plasma must be stored in freezers at temperatures below minus 30°C to maintain its stability and prevent degradation.
Human plasma plays a crucial role in various medical treatments and therapies. Plasma transfusions are essential in treating patients with clotting disorders, such as hemophilia, and those who have undergone massive blood loss or trauma and also used in the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders and autoimmune diseases. Plasma is also administered to patients in critical conditions, such as severe burns, to stabilize their condition and prevent complications.
DCA Telangana issued show-cause notices to ‘Srikara Hospital Blood Centre’ in Madinaguda, Miyapur, and ‘New Life Educational Society Blood Centre’ in Darulshifa after inspections of the blood banks. The notices were issued regarding the illegal sale of plasma from the blood bank and for certain violations reported by DCA officers regarding non-conformity with blood bank norms.
As the illegal sale of plasma by blood banks can have detrimental consequences on public health, the licenses of the two blood banks have been cancelled in the larger public interest.
Drugs Control Administration Director General V.B. Kamalasan Reddy, IPS, stated Blood bank centers must implement stringent measures to prevent such activities and ensure the integrity of blood banking practices. Stringent action shall be taken as per the law against violators, he added.
