AIIMS Nagpur sold over 1,000 litres of surplus plasma for Rs 16.44 lakh, RTI reveals
AIIMS Nagpur Sold 1,000+ Litres of Surplus Plasma, RTI Finds
Nagpur: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur, has sold more than 1,000 litres of surplus Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) collected from voluntary blood donors to an external facility for over Rs 16.44 lakh since 2023, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI response, however, does not disclose the identity of the recipient organisation or indicate whether any administrative approvals were obtained before the supplies were made, raising questions over transparency in the transactions.
According to a news report, the information was provided in response to an RTI application filed by Mumbai-based activist Chetan Kothari on June 7, 2026. In its reply dated July 7, AIIMS Nagpur’s Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) and Administrative Officer Shabbir Sheikh confirmed that the institute’s blood bank, which became operational on June 14, 2022, has been supplying surplus FFP to external facilities.
According to the documents, AIIMS Nagpur dispatched 10 consignments of surplus plasma between March 2023 and October 2025. Each consignment was supplied at a rate of Rs 1,600 per litre, with the total volume exceeding 1,000 litres and the revenue amounting to Rs 16,44,523.20.
AIIMS Nagpur further clarified that the plasma was supplied for monetary consideration rather than through an in-kind exchange, with the proceeds credited to the institute's Bank of Baroda account.
However, the RTI response withheld key details sought by the applicant. AIIMS declined to reveal the identity of the recipient organisation or provide copies of the administrative approvals authorising the supplies, citing Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which relates to third-party information.
Responding to the queries, a Maharashtra State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) official said the council would examine why the recipient’s identity had not been disclosed. “We will look into the matter and ascertain the reasons for not disclosing the name. We will seek the necessary information from AIIMS Nagpur and examine whether the reply is in accordance with the applicable provisions,” the official said. The RTI records also raise questions about the selection process. Asked whether any tender had been floated before the supplies were made, AIIMS responded: “Nil,” reports Mumbai Mirror.
The records do not indicate whether multiple eligible plasma fractionation facilities were considered, how the recipient was chosen, the basis for fixing the price of Rs 1,600 per litre, or the terms and duration of the arrangement.
Under India’s regulatory framework, licensed blood banks are permitted to transfer surplus plasma that is no longer required for clinical transfusion to authorised plasma fractionation facilities. Instead of being discarded, the plasma is processed into plasma-derived medicinal products used in the treatment of burns, trauma, immune deficiencies, haemophilia and several other serious medical conditions, according to Mumbai Mirror.
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