Gujarat FDA cancels licenses of 15 blood banks for violating standard norms

The Gujarat Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has canceled licenses of 15 blood banks in the state for not following standard practices to store and distribute blood. 

"The state regulator has asked these blood banks to pull down the shutter as they are repeated defaulters," said its chief Dr H G Koshia. The Gujarat FDA considers these blood banks as substandard due to the unavailability of kits to test antibodies and other equipment related issues.

There were 156 blood banks in the state, and with these cancellations, 141 have licenses to operate. Cancellation of licenses has taken place across a number