Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has issued a comprehensive directive to blood banks, focusing on the safety of patients and donors and the uniform application of statutory requirements.
FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said blood centres must follow the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the 1945 rules. The requirements cover infrastructure, qualified personnel, donor selection, collection, testing, component preparation, storage, labelling, biomedical-waste management and blood-donation camps.
Each unit must be tested for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and malaria. Blood and components must be stored at prescribed temperatures, with quarantine arrangements for units that raise concern. Centres must also keep records and update information on the e-RaktKosh portal daily.
The order follows inspections in which some centres did not meet statutory requirements. The FDA has asked all blood banks to review current practice and introduce corrective measures.
The directive is ultimately a systems story. Safe blood depends on a chain that begins with donor counselling and continues through testing, storage, traceability and trained staff. Consistent compliance protects both the person giving blood and the patient who may depend on it.