Nair Hospital’s blood bank licence suspended

The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of the blood bank of the civic-run Nair Hospital for violating the norms of the FDA following a series of inspections. This was revealed in an RTI query filed by a doctor who did not wish to be named. The RTI says, “There is a lack of medical staff as the post of blood transfusion officer (BTO) has not been filled up and technicians are failing to calibrate the machines in the blood bank. The action was initiated after it was brought to FDA’s notice that five BTO posts in Nair Hospital are vacant.”

The query also revealed that not only the blood bank but the pathology lab also lacks technicians and people who are not authorised sign on reports. This is despite strict FDA norms that only doctors should sign on reports. Though there are five doctors at the blood bank, doctors are not present round the clock.

Nair Hospital dean Dr Ramesh Barmal said, “The BMC has made efforts to recruit BTO candidates. We have released advertisements... Our director had a successful meeting with the FDA commissioner regarding technicians and BTO. It will take at least two-three months to complete the process. We have fast-tracked recruitments ... But hiring BTOs has been a challenge.”

An FDA official said, “We will give them the go-ahead when things are matched according to our norms.”