Investigation into illegal blood sales leads to suspension of blood bank drives

Recent raids conducted by health officials in Kolkata and surrounding districts uncovered documents suggesting that several blood banks were diverting red cells and plasma to other states at inflated prices. The findings prompted the department to issue a notice on August 1, prohibiting the eleven implicated banks from arranging any donation events. The State Blood Transfusion Board is now overseeing the audit of all large‑volume blood transactions, ensuring that any future collections adhere strictly to legal and ethical standards.