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Bhilai, May 23: The Health Secretary of Chhattisgarh Government has curtailed the quantum of punishment in the case of BSP’s Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital and Research Centre, Sector 9. The suspension period of the blood bank license has been reduced to 30 days. It is most likely that the blood bank would resume normal functioning from June 03. It needs to be mentioned here that the blood bank of this hospital was found responsible of transfusing HIV infected blood to two children. Taking the matter into serious consideration, the Food and Drugs Administration (Chhattisgarh Government), the licensing authority of blood banks in the state, had suspended the license of the JLNH’s Blood Bank for a period of 120 (One Hundred Twenty) days. Thereafter, the respondents (BSP management) preferred an appeal before the Health Secretary (CG Govt) and succeeded in getting a favorable decision.
It needs special mentioning here that Cabinet Minister Prem Prakash Pandey was also making efforts on his part for getting the suspension orders revoked. A couple of days ago, Pandey had stated that he has discussed the matter with Health Minister and some favourable decision would come very soon. He had assured the citizens of Bhilai that the blood bank would resume normal functioning within few days.
When contacted, Director I/c (Medical and Health Services) Dr KN Thakur stated that he has heard about such order but they are yet to receive it officially. Working President of Representative Trade Union – Puran Verma asserted that he has confirmed information that the suspension period of blood bank license has been reduced to 30 days. Central Chronicle tried to confirm the orders but Health Secretary Niharika Barik did not receive the phone call.
The official order for suspension of License was issued on April 28 but its formal compliance was done on May 04. On May 04, the officials of Food Department of Durg District had pasted the order copies in the walls of blood bank after which the hospital management had closed the blood bank. Accordingly, the period of thirty days will be over on June 02 and it is most likely that the blood bank would resume normal functioning from June 03.
It needs special mentioning here that the double bench of High Court of Chhattisgarh chaired by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Ram Prasanna Sharma has directed the appellate authority (Secretary, Heath, Govt of CG) to expedite the hearing of the appeal filed by Bhilai Steel Plant and decide the same within fifteen days. This order was passed by the court on May 09 after conducting hearing on the Public Interest Litigation filed by AICC member Deepak Dubey in which he challenged the order of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) regarding suspension of Blood Bank License. Accordingly, the Health Secretary expedited the hearing on the matter and the order has been passed within the period allowed by High Court. Once the blood bank resumes functioning, the court is likely to declare the PIL to be infructuous.
