2 blood banks in Rajasthan lose licenses over illegal Blood Trafficking
Jaipur: In a decisive action on Friday, the health department cancelled the licenses of two blood banks—one situated in Makrana in the Didwana-Kuchaman district and the other in Sawai Madhopur district. This move comes just days after the Jaipur (Rural) police busted a blood trafficking racket on Monday.
On Monday, police intercepted a vehicle and uncovered that 255 units of blood were being transported illegally from Makrana to Sawai Madhopur under hazardous conditions. To date, the Jaipur (Rural) police have arrested five individuals in connection with this case, including the manager of the Makrana-based blood bank and the president of the blood bank in Sawai Madhopur.
A similar incident took place in Rajasthan last year where the Rajasthan police arrested a lab technician who had allegedly taken out 76 units of plasma. The committee investigated the matter and submitted its report in which it was stated that CCTV cameras were not working in the blood bank. Even in Hyderabad last year where the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) Telangana busted an illegal human plasma collection racket in the city following which the licenses of two blood banks were cancelled for the illegal sale of plasma, reports the Daily.
In 1996, a landmark Supreme Court judgment led to the complete ban on professional blood donation, marking a turning point in the country’s approach to blood collection. This decision was followed by the establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) and State Blood Transfusion Councils (SBTCs), which facilitated the regulation and licensing of all blood banks.
