Licence Lapse Raises Safety Concerns
The Ludhiana Civil Hospital blood bank has been functioning without a valid licence for the past three years, in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The absence of regulatory authorisation raises serious concerns about the safety and legality of blood transfusions being carried out.
No Blood Transfusion Officer in Place
Despite legal requirements, the blood bank has no designated Blood Transfusion Officer (BTO), a critical position responsible for overseeing blood collection, testing, storage, and distribution. Currently, two pathologists are running the facility in the absence of a BTO, undermining safety protocols.
Public Health at Risk
Experts warn that without a BTO, there is no certified oversight of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), compatibility testing, or proper storage conditions. This leaves patients vulnerable to mismatched transfusions, contaminated blood, and untraceable donor records.
Mobile Vans Non-Functional
The hospital’s two mobile blood vans, meant for collection drives, have also been lying idle—one due to registration issues and the other under repair—further exposing administrative negligence.
Authorities Admit Lapses
Civil Surgeon Dr. Ramandeep Kaur admitted that only pathologists were handling the blood bank, as no qualified BTO had applied. She added that the hospital is in the process of applying for licence renewal and repairing one of the mobile vans.
