Closure of blood bank hits patient care at SDH Kupwara

Patient-care has been severely hit in SDH Kupwara after the blood bank inside the medical facility was closed by the authorities citing violation of State Licensing Authority rules by it.

On 25 June, a joint team of SLA Kashmir and CDSCO sub-zoneJammu visited the blood bank at SDH Kupwara to verify whether the deficienciespointed out during the earlier inspection had been addressed. It had been foundthat the blood bank was running without the blood bank officer.

   

“As per the verbal discussions with the authority and thetechnical staff it came to our notice that the blood bank officer Dr. Iqbal Mirhas gone to accompany Hajj delegation and there is no replacement of the same,”reads the on-spot joint inspection report submitted to government, a copy ofwhich is accessed by Greater Kashmir.

It reads that there are frequent changes in the technicalstaff endorsed in the blood bank license, thus violating the conditions.

The blood bank is also running without he ELIZA reader for 4years which is mandatory for the screening of HIV 1&2, HBSAG and HCV.”Presently the screening is done by the rapid kit method for which the recordscould not verified and the results cannot be ascertained.”

In view of the negligence and short of machine, theinspecting team opined that the blood bank was violating 122G rule of Drugs andCosmetics Act 1940 and Rules of 1945. It advised the blood bank to stopimmediately the collection of the whole Human Blood IP.

An official in the hospital said that from the day the bloodbank was closed more than sixty patients have been referred to Srinagarhospital from this medical facility. “It is the negligence of the Chief Medicalofficer Kupwara who despite getting repeated pleas from the inspection teamfrom time to time, failed to provide the necessary machines for smooth runningof the blood bank,” the official wishing not be named, said.

When contacted BMO Kupwara Dr. Zaffar Iqbal said: “We arearranging the blood from Handwara hospital but the surgeries take place onlyfrom 10am to 04pm beyond which the patients are referred to Srinagar hospitals.

“I have taken up the matter with the JKMSCL to provide themachine, we will try to restart it soon,” he said.

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