HYDERABAD, July 28: Applications of over 40 blood banks in Andhra Pradesh for renewal of licence were rejected this year as part of the measures initiated by the Chennai-based Drugs Control Authority (DCA) of India to exercise control over large-scale operation of private blood banks.While about 140 blood banks, both government and private, applied for the renewal of licenses this year, the DCA permitted operation of only 94 banks and authorities confirmed that only six or seven more of the remaining will get renewal.Among those permitted by the authorities 38 are being run by the government and 56 are under the private managements.Based on the Supreme Court verdict on a public interest litigation, the govt had initiated strict measures controlling the blood business. The Supreme Court had clearly stated that the operation of unauthorised blood banks should be arrested and stringent action initiated against the owners of such establishments. The apex court made it mandatory for all the banks to conduct tests of HIV, HBS, VDRL and malarial viruses before accepting the blood.Several complaints were received against the private blood banks earlier. Institute of Preventive Medicine director Suhasini Reddy said that while there was widespread operation of private blood banks earlier, it has been restricted now by regular inspections and denial of licence to the malfunctioning counters.Notices have been served to a few units to install necessary equipment in compliance with the prescribed standards of the DCA.While the last date was earlier fixed at April 30, it has been extended keeping in view the hardships faced by the owners in the installation of expensive equipment.However the authorities said the situation was not pathetic While an estimated 4,000 bottles of blood are required for various hospitals in the State every month, hospitals in the twin cities take away half the requirement.DCA joint director Janaki Reddy said the authority has stopped accepting applications from banks which do not comply with the safety norms. A team comprising a DCA inspector, drug inspector from Chennai, an expert from the AIDS control cell and officials from Institute of Preventive Medicine inspect blood banks regularly. After one such visit, Susrutha Hospital blood bank at Malakpet and the AB blood bank at Secunderabad were immediately served ``stop operation'' orders, she said.Though the Central authorities gave a stipulated time limit to all the blood banks against which complaints were registered, the State officials, keeping in view the huge costs involved, adopted a lenient attitude and gave adequate time for the managements to take necessary precautions.
