Dehradun: All blood centres operating outside of hospitals in Uttarakhand will no longer be eligible for licence renewal, a circular issued on Saturday by the Uttarakhand Food and Drug Authority (FDA) said.
Currently, 82 blood centres are operational in the state, and this directive is expected to impact 30-35 of them, a source in the department said. However, centres run by organisations like Indian Medical Association (IMA) or those under Red Cross will not be affected, as they are classified as charity organisations, according to officials.
Existing centres with a five-year licence will not have to establish a hospital, but once the licences expire, they will not be renewed unless they have moved into hospital premises.
Tajber Singh, additional commissioner, state Food and Drug Administration, said, “Affiliation with any hospital won’t help. Blood centres must be within hospital premises, to ensure that patients in need of blood and plasma receive priority. It also promotes strict preservation of blood as per protocols.”
The move is expected to curb high prices charged by private blood banks during crises and to address issues of incorrect blood transfusions by promoting proper testing and storage of blood.
