Kendrapara, Nov. 29: The Red Cross Blood Bank at the district headquarters hospital is facing the threat of licence cancellation due to lack of infrastructure.

Though the storage capacity of the bank has tripled since the past two years, efforts to employ manpower and infrastructure are hardly made.

If things continue in such a manner, apprehension looms large that the state drugs control administration may revoke the licence of operation from the blood bank.

Large-scale vacancy has marred the effective functioning of the bank. A senior pathological technician is the sole staff member running the blood bank.

A surgeon from the hospital, working on deputation, assists him in blood collection, pathological tests and distribution of blood.

“The blood bank needs at least one doctor, a laboratory technician, two attendants and an equal number of Grade IV employees to maintain cleanliness and sanitation. However, posts are lying vacant,” said officer in charge of the blood bank Debendra Narayan Sutar.

Space constraint is also a major issue. Earlier, the blood bank was equipped to collect 350 units of blood. Each unit contains 350ml. Now, the capacity has been increased to 750 units. The Odisha State AIDS Control Society has provided the required number of blood-storage refrigerators. However, there is hardly enough space for hassle-free functioning.

Though the blood bank is situated in a double-storey building, the top floor continues to be occupied by the officials of the national health mission.

Besides, a building earmarked for laboratory-testing and antigen storage is lying half-constructed. Though flushed with funds, the authorities have done a little to complete the construction.

The authorities have submitted a written request to the state health department to plug in the loopholes. However, steps to solve the problems are yet to be taken, said an official.

Chief district medical officer Binayak Swain said: “As there is no sanctioned post for the Red Cross Blood Bank, we are deploying employees for proper functioning of the bank. Despite constraints, the blood bank is accumulating 3,000 units of blood, catering to the needs of hospitals across the district.”