FDA asks Cama hospital blood bank to close shop

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has asked the blood bank of Cama and Albless Hospital in Fort to shut stop as the conditions there were unhygienic.

Cama and Albless is the only state-run tertiary care hospital for women and children in Mumbai.

FDA had inspected the hospital with the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in May this year.

"The report that the blood bank is running under unhygienic conditions and not suitable for storage was submitted in June. Therefore, till the time they comply with requirements, we have asked them to stop work,"FDA joint commissioner ST Patil said.

Giving the specifics, an FDA official said: "Records were not maintained properly. The wall was peeling off. Part of the refrigerator which stored diagnostic kits like Elisa and anti-serum kits was damaged. The A/C in the storage room was out of order. Cement particles were found in the AC and it was not showing temperature display."

The team also found out that there was no FDA-approved blood transfusion officer (BTO) at the bank. "It is important for blood banks to have a BTO. At the time of the visit, the BTO was on leave. They had two BTOs but without the FDA's approval letter," Patil said.

The hospital's medical superintendent said that they have submitted a compliance letter to the FDA.

Patil confirmed that the hospital has submitted a compliance letter. "We sent our team on Saturday evening to verify the report. The report will be submitted soon and we will take a decision accordingly," he said.

Vinay Shetty, vice-president of THINK foundation -- an NGO that works for thalassemia patients and blood donation – said, "Maintaining AC temperature is part of the specifications laid down by the FDA for blood banks. We also need to think if we need such small blood bank set-ups like in Cama and Albless Hospital."