Kolkata, 05 August (H.S.) : The West Bengal Health Department has intensified its crackdown on alleged irregularities in the private healthcare sector by ordering the immediate closure of a second private blood bank in Kolkata and shutting down 28 private diagnostic centres in East Midnapore.

The department on Tuesday directed People's Blood Bank in Hazra to immediately cease all operations related to blood collection, including the organisation of blood donation camps and in-house blood collection. Officials said inspectors found that the facility lacked the essential equipment required for collecting blood on its premises.

The action comes just a day after the Health Department shut down Health Point Blood Bank in Bhowanipore over alleged serious regulatory violations and prohibited it from collecting or handling blood and blood products, including plasma.

According to senior Health Department officials, People's Blood Bank collected nearly 43,000 units of blood over the past six months. Authorities are now scrutinising its records as part of the ongoing investigation.

The enforcement drive has also expanded to East Midnapore, particularly Nandigram, where officials have alleged the existence of an organised tout network linked to private diagnostic centres and blood collection activities. As part of the operation, 28 private diagnostic centres in the district have been ordered to shut down for allegedly violating regulatory norms.

Investigators are examining the role of middlemen who allegedly diverted patients to private healthcare facilities in exchange for commissions.

The latest action follows Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee's announcement that the department had uncovered a suspected blood bank scam, which he claimed could exceed ₹100 crore. He said FIRs would be lodged against several private blood banks.

Speaking on Tuesday, the minister alleged that one of the Kolkata-based blood banks had been operating for years despite lacking the basic infrastructure required for blood collection and storage.

Mukherjee further claimed that some private blood banks lured organisers of blood donation camps by offering expensive gifts, including pressure cookers, pedestal fans and shopping vouchers, in exchange for exclusive access to blood collection drives.

He also alleged that certain blood banks collected blood beyond permissible limits from donors to maximise the extraction of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), leading to illegal plasma transactions worth several crore rupees. The minister further accused some facilities of compromising blood screening protocols, ignoring donor welfare norms and overcharging thalassaemia patients for blood.

The Health Department said surveillance of private blood banks has been strengthened across West Bengal and indicated that further action is likely as the investigation progresses.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh