West Bengal bars 11 blood banks from donation camps amid illegal inter-state blood sale probe
Synopsis
West Bengal has suspended 11 blood banks from running donation camps after investigators found evidence of blood and plasma being sold to other states without authorisation — and without even basic permissions to hold camps. With documents seized and the State Blood Transfusion Board now on high alert for any large blood transaction statewide, this probe could expose a systemic racket in one of India's most densely populated states.
Key Takeaways
The West Bengal Health Department banned 11 blood banks from organising donation camps statewide from 1 August .
The State Blood Transfusion Board is investigating allegations of red blood cells and plasma being sent to other states at premium prices without authorisation.
Some blood banks allegedly organised camps without obtaining mandatory permission from the West Bengal Health Department .
The ban covers only external donation camps — in-house blood collection may continue under trained staff.
Key documents were seized during raids in Kolkata and surrounding districts ahead of the formal ban.
The department has asked the State Blood Transfusion Board to monitor all major blood transactions across the state until the probe concludes.
The West Bengal Health Department on 1 August barred 11 blood banks across the state from organising blood donation camps until further orders, as a formal investigation into serious irregularities — including the alleged unauthorised sale of blood and plasma to other states — remains ongoing. The ban, notified officially by the department, takes effect immediately.
What Triggered the Ban
According to officials, the State Blood Transfusion Board is conducting a probe into multiple allegations against these blood banks, including collecting blood without the mandatory prior permission from the West Bengal Health Department and sending red blood cells and plasma to other states at premium prices without authorisation. Search operations were conducted at several locations in Kolkata and surrounding districts in the days preceding the ban, during which investigators seized key documents.
Scope of the Restrictions
'Till the time the investigation process in the matter is completed, these 11 blood banks would be barred from organising blood donation camps anywhere in the state,' a West Bengal Health Department official said. Crucially, the ban is limited to external donation camps — blood collection and trading within the institutions may continue, but only by skilled and trained staff following all applicable regulations.
What the Investigation Has Found So Far
Investigators reportedly found that some blood bank authorities had not sought the necessary permissions before organising donation camps, and there were irregularities in how blood was collected and recorded. Allegations of blood and plasma being dispatched to other states in exchange for money are among the most serious charges under scrutiny, according to officials close to the probe.
What Happens Next
The West Bengal Health Department has directed the State Blood Transfusion Board to monitor all major blood transactions across the state with heightened vigilance. No new donation camps can be organised by the affected blood banks until the investigation concludes and the department issues fresh orders. The outcome of the probe could determine whether the restrictions are extended, lifted, or converted into permanent licence actions against the accused institutions.
Point of View
Making unauthorised inter-state transfers relatively easy to conceal. The fact that some accused banks allegedly ran donation camps without even basic departmental permission suggests the oversight failure predates the current probe. Restricting external camps while allowing in-house operations is a calibrated move, but it does little to address the core question of how blood collected from public donors ended up being sold for profit across state lines. The real accountability test will come when the State Blood Transfusion Board concludes its investigation — and whether that leads to licence cancellations or merely warnings.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has West Bengal banned 11 blood banks from holding donation camps?
The West Bengal Health Department barred 11 blood banks from organising donation camps from 1 August after investigations revealed serious irregularities, including the alleged unauthorised sale of blood and plasma to other states at premium prices. The ban stays in place until the State Blood Transfusion Board completes its probe.
Can the 11 blood banks still collect blood from patients or donors?
Yes, but only within their own premises and strictly under trained staff following all applicable rules. The ban applies solely to organising external blood donation camps — in-house blood collection and trading are permitted to continue during the investigation.
What specific irregularities are the blood banks accused of?
The blood banks face allegations of sending red blood cells and plasma to other states without authorisation and in exchange for money, conducting donation camps without the mandatory prior permission from the West Bengal Health Department, and irregularities in blood collection procedures.
Who is conducting the investigation into these blood banks?
The State Blood Transfusion Board is carrying out the investigation under the oversight of the West Bengal Health Department. Raids were conducted at multiple locations in Kolkata and surrounding districts, and key documents have been seized as part of the probe.
What happens after the investigation is completed?
The ban on organising donation camps will remain until the investigation concludes and the West Bengal Health Department issues fresh orders. Depending on the findings, the restrictions could be lifted, extended, or escalated to permanent licence action against the accused blood banks.
