Visakhapatnam: In a swift and decisive action, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has suspended the licence and sealed Vijayasri Blood Centre, operated by the Vijayasri Memorial Charitable Trust in Maharanipeta, after surprise inspections revealed serious breaches of blood bank safety protocols.
The inspections were ordered by Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav as part of a statewide crackdown on healthcare lapses.
Unqualified Staff, Missing Equipment, No Documentation
The inspection team found the blood bank functioning with unqualified personnel handling critical procedures without supervision from authorised medical officers. Officials also discovered:
- Specialised blood collection conducted without proper equipment
- Absence of mandatory quality control systems
- Blood donation camps organised without essential records or approvals
These violations posed significant risks to donor and patient safety, prompting immediate regulatory action.
“Stop Forthwith” Orders Issued
Following the findings, M. Pandu Ranga Prasad, Director and State Licensing Authority of the Drugs Control Administration, issued orders instructing the blood bank to halt all operations immediately until further notice.
DCA Inspector M. Srinivas Rao, who executed the closure order, stressed that blood and blood components are life-saving products and must strictly meet safety and quality standards to prevent transfusion-related complications, The Hindu reported. He warned that any blood bank operating without qualified medical officers or trained staff will face stringent action.
Part of Larger Crackdown on Healthcare Lapses
The action aligns with Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav’s recent directives to strengthen oversight of government healthcare services. The Minister had earlier ordered daily monitoring of patient loads handled by government doctors, following repeated complaints about absenteeism and negligence in several hospitals—including teaching hospitals, district and area hospitals, and community health centres.
During a four-hour review meeting at the State Secretariat, Yadav expressed concern over the declining standards of patient care and emphasised the need for strict accountability.
