{
  "id": 640973,
  "title": "Mumbai FDA Confirms Branded Watches Distributed To Blood Donors, Refers Case To SBTC For Action",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/mumbai-fda-confirms-branded-watches-distributed-to-blood-donors",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-12T06:50:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-fda-confirms-branded-watches-distributed-to-blood-donors-refers-case-to-sbtc-for-action"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Mumbai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has forwarded a case to the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) concerning the distribution of branded watches at a blood donation camp in Mumbai. After confirming that donors received the gifts, the FDA has requested the SBTC to take appropriate action. The blood donation camp was organized by the Young Star Committee on April 9 at Altamount Road in collaboration with Sir JJ Hospital and a blood bank associated with the Red Cross/Nair Hospital.\n\nAn independent FDA investigation revealed that donors who participated in the camp affirmed receiving watches post-blood donation, contrary to an initial statement from the organizers claiming no gifts or prizes were distributed. This inquiry was initiated following a complaint lodged through the Aaple Sarkar portal on April 18 and a subsequent news report on the matter. Initially, the FDA sought a written explanation from the organizers, who acknowledged that a gift offer had been included in the original advertisement but maintained that no gift or prize was actually given away. They also provided photographs indicating that the reference to the gift had been removed from the banner thereafter.\n\nHowever, upon receiving the news report, the FDA launched a fresh inquiry and contacted the attendees of the camp. Their testimonies confirmed that watches were indeed distributed subsequently. The FDA referred to the National Blood Transfusion Council’s Guidelines for Voluntary Blood Donation, especially its policy prohibiting the offering of gifts or inducements to donors, which they deemed inappropriate. The SBTC has previously expressed concerns over the distribution of expensive gifts such as headphones and smartwatches to blood donors, deeming such inducements as a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Organizers found guilty of breaching this prohibition may face regulatory action.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has forwarded to the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) a case involving the distribution of branded watches to blood donors at a Mumbai blood donation camp, after its inquiry confirmed that donors had received the gifts. The FDA has asked the SBTC to take necessary action against those concerned. SBTC Director Dr Suhas Mohnalkar was…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}