The State Blood Bank Transfusion Council (SBTC), which issues NOCs, a prerequisite to obtain a licence from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to run a blood bank, have stated that it would cancel them if blood banks didnt update information on the portal e-rakt kosh.

Dr Arun Thorat of SBTC said that, there will be a review after 30 days and if banks are found lacking will lose the NOC and will have to forgo their license too. He further added that it is a central government diktat to upload the information daily.

According to TOI, blood banks said that the state should threaten a crackdown only after facilitating banks. A blood transfusion officer from one of the public hospitals said that many hospitals dont have a computer, internet or a data operator to upload data. So how would public blood banks conform to the rules in that case?

A senior official from a private bank also admitted that there was hesitation to upload daily stock reports. Every hospital requires a daily average amount of blood and for many procedures and childbirth, blood is kept on reserve.

Dr Zarine Bharucha of Federation of Bombay Blood Banks said it was a good initiative, however a greater need is to get more people to come and donate. At the meeting, Dr Anup Yadav, who heads the DHS, emphasized that the practice of replacement donors should be discouraged. He also said the portal would help check overpricing of blood and blood products.