Kolkata: Raids on a few private blood banks across the state, including at least four in Kolkata, have revealed they have “trafficked” blood components worth approximately Rs 3.5 crore in the past six months. While raided units have been told to refrain from holding any blood donation camp for now, the health department has asked a blood bank attached with a Bhowanipore hospital to temporarily stop all operations. Penal actions are expected on more private blood banks for violations of blood donation procedures, transfer, and other regulations.“Our initial estimation shows that some private blood banks have transacted plasma units worth approximately Rs 3.5 crore, sending these units to neighbouring states. We are still analysing documents seized during the raids on blood banks in the past few days. We will come out with more details in about four-five days once we finish analysing data,” state health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee told the media at Swasthya Bhawan on Monday.Officials said the decision to stop all operations at the blood bank attached to Health Point Hospital on Prannath Pandit Street — collection, storage, processing and distribution of blood and blood components — was taken after finding gross deficiency that would affect the quality, safety and efficacy of blood and its components.
