Last Updated on July 15, 2026 by The Health Master
FDA Maharashtra
In one of the most stringent regulatory drives of the last year, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA Maharashtra) has cracked down on unsafe practices in Blood transfusion services.
Between April and June 2026, the state’s FDA Maharashtra conducted an inspection of 23 Blood Centres and 15 Blood Storage Centers.
During these inspections, they found that 34 operational licenses of Blood Centres were suspended, and 4 licenses were cancelled.
Why Regulatory Compliance in Healthcare is Non-Negotiable
The investigation by the FDA Maharashtra was conducted as part of the Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1940 and its rules.
According to the act, all Blood Centres and Blood Storage Centers that are licensed in the state are required to undergo an inspection in their center every year to ensure they meet certain health and safety regulations.
Blood Centres and Storage Centres in Maharashtra
According to the official statistics of the Blood Centres of the state of Maharashtra published in 2026, there are 413 licensed Blood centres and 468 licensed Blood storage centres in the state.
The inspection by the FDA Maharashtra of 23 Blood centres and 15 Blood storage centres between April and June of 2026 is a monumental task to carry out given the number of Blood Centres in the state.
However, it is necessary to ensure that all Blood Centres in the state meet the health and safety requirements necessary to supply Blood to patients effectively.
The Deficiencies
The FDA Maharashtra conducted investigations into the 23 Blood Centres and 15 Blood Storage Centers that were inspected during their three-month observation period.
During these investigations, they found that the following deficiencies existed inside these institutions:
- Substandard testing and processing of the Blood that is collected from Blood donors
- Poor maintenance of the storage temperatures of Blood products
- Poor documentation of the Blood Centres’ transactions and activities
- Biomedical waste disposals that did not meet health and safety regulations
- Lack of qualified personnel to manage the Blood Centres according to regulatory requirements
Blood Centre: 34 suspended, 4 cancelled
The FDA Maharashtra found that 34 of the licensed Blood Centres and Blood Storage Centres needed corrective action to fix the issues that they revealed during their investigation.
Furthermore, the licenses of 4 Blood Centres were cancelled permanently following investigations into these centres that were conducted based on complaints between April and June of 2026.
According to officials of the FDA Maharashtra, the issues found inside these Blood Centres are of such critical concern that they have created a significant risk for voluntary Blood donation services in the state of Maharashtra.
“Blood is not just an ordinary medicine, but one of the most vital and life-saving medicines available in the world. It is up to the FDA of Maharashtra to provide safe, quality Blood to every citizen of the state. We will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that no Blood Centre operates for commercial reasons alone.” – Tukaram Mundhe, the Commissioner of FDA of Maharashtra.
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