Days after mid-day reported that Mumbai’s blood banks are running with just 57 per cent of the required staff strength, yesterday this paper carried another disheartening revelation — three of the city’s eight blood banks have been functioning without licences.

The three blood banks — at Sion, Nair and Rajawadi hospitals — had applied to renew their expired permits, but the process has been delayed by the Food and Drug Authority (the licensing authority) on the grounds of much pending work.