Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) Maharashtra MoS for Health Meghna Bordikar on Monday announced termination of services of Sir J. J. Municipal Blood Centre director Dr Hitesh Pagare and Medical Social Officer Ajay Bhise, amid allegations of malpractices.
A criminal case will be registered against both Bhise and Pagare, who were contractual employees, she said.
Raising the issue in the council through a calling attention motion, BJP’s Chitra Wagh said a Chinchpokli-based organisation had conducted a blood donation camp and collected 188 blood bags.
Of the 188 bags, around 55 were supplied to Badlapur-based Maya Blood Bank in an unauthorised manner, which was illegal and amounted to theft, Wagh said, adding that the blood bank is associated with Pagare.
Unsatisfied by the response, Wagh demanded termination of the services of Bhise and Pagare.
“Services of Pagare and Bhise have been terminated, and a criminal case will be lodged against them,” Bordikar said.
In a written response in the House, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said the J. J. Municipal Blood Centre, operated by the State Blood Transfusion Council, has been functioning since February 25, 2009, in the F.D. Petit building on the premises of the Grant Government Medical College.
The head of this blood centre, Dr Pagare, was working on a contractual basis. Additionally, 40 technical staff members are also employed on a contractual basis. The blood centre collects an average of 22,000 to 25,000 units of blood annually.
A voluntary blood donation camp was organised at Chinchpokli on September 4, 2024, through the Tarun Mitra Mandal.
During this camp, 188 blood bags were collected by the Sir J. J. Municipal Blood Centre. However, it was reported to the State Blood Transfusion Council that 50 of these 188 blood bags were removed by Bhise without obtaining permission from the senior authorities, and they were transferred elsewhere, the minister stated.
A complaint was received informally by the State Blood Transfusion Council.
Accordingly, on September 5, 2024, the then Assistant Director of the State Blood Transfusion Council questioned Bhise, who admitted the incident. Subsequently, the State Blood Transfusion Council issued a show-cause notice to Bhise and sought his explanation.
Bhise’s written explanation was received, but it was found to be unsatisfactory. He also tendered a written apology and assured that such an incident would not occur again.
However, after taking into account the blood bags used for blood collection, the consumables, and the expenditure incurred in collecting those blood bags, an amount of Rs 55,000 ( Rs 1,100 per blood bag) was recovered from him on February 3, 2025. While depositing this amount, he again assured that such misconduct would not be repeated, Abitkar stated.
Considering these facts, the then Assistant Director of the State Blood Transfusion Council disposed of the matter at his level.
Similarly, Pagare was also issued a show-cause notice by the State Blood Transfusion Council for failing to exercise proper supervision and control over the staff.
In response, Dr Pagare apologised for the lapse and assured that appropriate care would be taken in the future, Abitkar added. PTI PR NSK
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