In the wake of a recent directive from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to the state’s Drug Controller-cum-Licencing Authority, urging it to ensure compliance with revised guidelines for the recovery of blood processing charges, Mumbai-based People’s Health Organisation (PHO, India) has brought attention to the concealed nature of blood trade within private hospitals and blood banks.

Dr Ishwar Gilada, secretary general, PHO, and president emeritus, AIDS Society of India, said most private blood banks, despite acquiring the majority of their blood supply from voluntary donors, charge receivers or their families a deposit ranging from R1,500 to R5,000 per unit of blood. “They expect the patient to replace the blood within the stipulated time limit. In case of failure to replace blood, the deposit is forfeited. This amounts to selling blood,” he noted.