Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 15: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of three blood banks in Mumbai after an investigation found that donors were gifted Titan watches at a blood donation camp, in violation of guidelines prohibiting gifts during voluntary blood donation drives.
The action was taken against the Indian Red Cross Society Blood Center in Mumbai, the blood centre at Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Byculla, and the BYL Nair Charitable Hospital Blood Center in Mumbai Central.
The blood donation camp was organised by the Young Star Committee, based on Altamount Road in Mumbai, around April 2026. Advertisements for the camp had announced that donors would receive Titan watches as gifts.
According to the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) guidelines, offering gifts or other items to donors at voluntary blood donation camps is prohibited.
During the initial inquiry, the organisers and the participating blood banks claimed they were unaware of the distribution of gifts. However, some donors contacted during the investigation confirmed that they had received watches.
Following the findings, the FDA inspected the concerned blood banks on August 22, 2026, and issued show-cause notices on September 2. Personal hearings were subsequently conducted, and the authorities decided to suspend the licences after finding the explanations unsatisfactory.
The Indian Red Cross Society Blood Center's licence was suspended for five days, while the licences of the blood centres at Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital were suspended for three days each.
However, the latter two blood centres appealed to the state government against the suspension orders and secured interim stays on the orders, according to an official press note.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said blood donation was an important act of social responsibility and service to humanity. He stressed that no gifts or inducements should be offered to encourage blood donation.
The FDA reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all blood banks comply with the applicable legal provisions and guidelines governing voluntary blood donation.