Licences of three Mumbai blood banks suspended for offering gifts

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of three blood banks in Mumbai for three to five days after an investigation found that Titan watches were distributed as gifts to donors at a blood donation camp held in April this year, in violation of National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) guidelines.

The three blood banks are the Indian Red Cross Society Blood Centre, Mumbai; Dean Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals Blood Centre, Byculla; and B.Y.L. Nair Charitable Hospital Blood Centre, Mumbai Central. Their licences were suspended for five days, three days, and three days, respectively, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

However, the blood centres at Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals and Nair Hospital have appealed against the suspension orders before the State Government and secured temporary stays on the orders.

According to the FDA, the blood donation camp was organised by the Young Star Committee, Altamount Road, towards the end of April 2026. Advertisements for the camp stated that donors would receive Titan watches as gifts. However, the NBTC’s Guidelines for Voluntary Blood Donation prohibit offering gifts to donors at voluntary blood donation camps.

During the initial inquiry, the organisers and participating blood banks denied knowledge of the distribution of gifts. However, FDA officials subsequently contacted several blood donors, who confirmed that they had received watches.

Following these findings, the FDA inspected the three blood banks on August 22 and issued show-cause notices on September 2 over the violations detected. Personal hearings were conducted on September 22, during which the blood banks submitted their explanations.

The FDA found their explanations unsatisfactory and subsequently ordered the suspension of their licences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said blood donation was an important act of social responsibility and service to humanity, and that gifts or inducements should not be used to encourage donations.

“The FDA is committed to ensuring that no gifts or inducements are used to encourage blood donation and that the relevant guidelines are followed. Blood banks must strictly comply with the applicable legal provisions and guidelines,” Mundhe said.