Ministry of Public Health closes blood bank in Moca

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Public Health has closed the Banco de Sangre Cibao BSC 24/7 in Moca, Espaillat province, following an inspection that revealed multiple sanitary violations.

Technical inspectors identified significant deficiencies in the storage and disposal of blood and medical instruments. Key findings included the absence of necessary reagents for immunoserological tests, such as those for detecting Hepatitis C antibodies. The facility lacked proper refrigerators for blood storage, instead using domestic-style refrigerators unsuitable for medical products.

Additional violations noted by the Ministry included improper separation of blood storage areas from technical areas, a lack of adequate needle disposal collectors, and the storage of cleaning supplies in bathrooms. The inspection also found that the facility's physical layout did not match its official plans, and it lacked a properly classified, covered, and enclosed area for infectious waste. Furthermore, the blood extraction chairs did not meet established requirements.