22 July,2026 08:44 PM IST | Pune | Archana Dahiwal
The health department has warned that strict administrative action will be taken against blood centres found violating rules or displaying serious deficiencies. Representational pic
In a major move to strengthen the safety, transparency, and quality of blood stock management, the Maharashtra Public Health Department, through the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC), launched a statewide surprise inspection drive at blood centres. As part of the special campaign, all the blood centres in Pune, Solapur, Nashik, and Mumbai were subjected to unannounced inspections between July 17 and 19.
The special drive was conducted in accordance with the directives issued by the SBTC on June 27. As blood is classified as a "drug" under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, strict compliance with quality, safety, and transparency norms in its collection, processing, storage, and distribution is mandatory.
The inspection campaign was initiated after recent inspections by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed serious irregularities at certain blood centres.
Three-member inspection teams, comprising two medical officers and one finance department officer, were deployed for the exercise. In some cases, officials from the National Health Mission (NHM) have been included in place of finance department officers.
The teams carried out detailed audits of blood centre operations, including assessment of blood collection requirements and actual collections, inter-state transfer of blood components, plasma supply to fractionators, compliance with National Blood Transfusion Council guidelines, real-time updating of blood stock on the e-RaktKosh portal, display of approved processing charges, availability of technically qualified staff, blood stock audits, utilisation and records of blood bags, and registration and disposal of public complaints. The Public Health Department said such inspections will continue on a regular basis.
The officials said that the inspections are also verifying adherence to the State Blood Transfusion Council's operational guidelines, service quality standards, maintenance of mandatory records and overall compliance with regulatory provisions. Inspection teams have been directed to submit detailed reports to the State Blood Transfusion Council and the FDA on the inspections.
The department has warned that strict administrative action will be taken against blood centres found violating rules or displaying serious deficiencies. Officials said the surprise inspection drive is expected to improve accountability and ensure higher standards of blood banking services across Maharashtra. Similar inspections will continue in the future, the press release stated.
