3 months ago
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In a determination aimed astatine bringing azygous prime standards crossed each humor centres, the State Health Department has made it mandatory for each humor banks successful Karnataka to get accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) oregon certification nether the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) programme wrong a year.
The directive has been issued done a Government Order dated February 17, 2026, pursuing a connection from the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) and consultations with NABH authorities.
The connection stated that ensuring each humor centres successful the State relation successful accordance with the guidelines of the National Blood Transfusion Council, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi, the Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, and the directives of the State and Central governments is the work of the Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council.
With a presumption to preventing transfusion-transmitted infections and strengthening the due absorption of humor centres, consultations were held with the NABH authorities earlier the determination was finalised, officials said.
State Deputy Director (Blood Safety) Shakila N. told The Hindu connected Thursday that the determination was intended to reenforce systems governing humor collection, investigating and storage. “Blood banks woody with life-saving services. There are aggregate processes involved- from donor screening and humor postulation to testing, constituent separation and storage. Each of these steps indispensable conscionable defined standards, with due infrastructure, trained quality resources and calibrated equipment,” she said.
260 humor banks successful State
Karnataka has astir 260 humor banks, including authorities and backstage facilities. As per the order, each authorities humor banks indispensable get the NQAS certification. The humor centres functioning nether autonomous institutions of the authorities whitethorn opt for either NQAS certification oregon NABH accreditation. However, each backstage humor banks, which are not eligible nether the government-run NQAS scheme, indispensable get the NABH accreditation, according to the order.
All existing humor banks person been fixed 1 twelvemonth to unafraid the prescribed accreditation. New humor banks volition beryllium required to get accreditation wrong 1 twelvemonth from the day of receiving their licence.
Monitoring challenges
Existing humor banks person been fixed 1 twelvemonth to comply. Newly licensed humor banks indispensable get accreditation wrong 1 twelvemonth from the day of licence. Licences are renewed erstwhile each 5 years, with periodic inspections by district-level officers. “Monitoring backstage humor banks connected a day-to-day ground tin beryllium challenging. This determination volition guarantee an further furniture of prime oversight,” Dr. Shakila said.
Referring to reports from different States wherever lapses successful investigating allegedly resulted successful transfusion-related infections, she said some the Central and State governments were keen to tighten safeguards.
The accreditation process involves documentation of modular operating procedures, infrastructure appraisal and compliance checks, and whitethorn instrumentality 8 to 10 months. The outgo of accreditation volition beryllium borne by the respective humor banks. Failure to get certification wrong the stipulated play volition effect successful suspension of licence, the bid stated.
Dr. Shakila said associated inspections by the State Drugs Control Department and the Health Department had identified procedural lapses successful immoderate humor banks successful the past, and enactment had been initiated wherever necessary. “Safe humor is non-negotiable,” Dr. Shakila added.
