1 week ago
West Bengal Blood Bank Faces Probe Over Alleged Malpractice
Officials in West Bengal are investigating a private blood bank called Life Care.
They say it may have sent blood and plasma to other states without following the required rules.
The blood bank was asked to bring documents to the state health headquarters.
Records show it collected nearly 1,600 blood units at 35 camps in one day.
Investigators are checking whether the facility could process that much blood.
They are also examining why government medical students helped collect blood at the camps.
Officials say this use of students was not allowed under the rules.
The investigation is also reviewing the bank’s money records and its facilities.
Life Care Blood Bank officials appeared at Swasthya Bhavan after being summoned by the health department.
An audit found the facility allegedly sent blood and plasma outside West Bengal without following required procedures or notifying officials.
Records showed nearly 1,600 blood units were collected at 35 donation camps on a single day.
Investigators questioned whether the blood bank had enough infrastructure to process the collected blood.
The probe is examining student involvement, financial records, infrastructure documents and sales of blood products.
- Who
- Life Care Blood Bank officials, West Bengal health department officials, the State Blood Transfusion Council and medical students were involved in the inquiry.
- What
- A private blood bank is being investigated over alleged procedural violations, blood-product transfers, collection volumes, student involvement and infrastructure discrepancies.
- Where
- The inquiry concerns Life Care Blood Bank in the Beniapukur police station area and its operations in West Bengal and other states.
- When
- The officials appeared at Swasthya Bhavan on Tuesday; the records under review include activity during the current year and recent months.
- Why
- The health department alleges that blood and plasma were sent outside West Bengal without following required procedures or notifying the department, while other records raised additional questions.
Key facts
- Facility
- Life Care Blood Bank
- Location
- Beniapukur police station area, West Bengal
- Blood collected
- Nearly 1,600 units on a single day
- Donation camps
- 35 camps
- Complaint
- The State Blood Transfusion Council lodged a complaint
- Records requested
- Financial records, blood and plasma sales details, and records of products allegedly sent or sold to other states
- Agencies examining case
- The West Bengal Health Department and the State Drug Control Department
Sources
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