National Blood Bank system disruption has forced a return to handwritten records as questions emerge over a tender and free software maintenance.
Sri Lanka’s National Blood Bank system is facing a serious digital crisis, with reports that staff have returned to handwritten records after the main software became inactive.
The disruption involves the Blood Bank Management System, or BBMS, used by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS). The platform digitised the process from blood donor registration through to delivering blood for patients.
Questions are now emerging over what happened to the system, who will maintain it and why a new tender process has reportedly begun.
Doctor Donated National Blood Bank System Free of Charge
According to official NBTS documents cited in the report, Dr. Pushpika de Silva developed the system over several years using his own time and effort.
He later donated it entirely free of charge to the National Blood Bank.
The software helped coordinate more than 450,000 blood donations recorded annually in Sri Lanka, together with patient requirements.
The report describes the system as an important digital platform within one of the country’s most sensitive health services.
However, questions have now emerged over its continued operation and maintenance.
According to an investigative report by senior journalist Saroj Pathirana through the YouTube channel ‘Sandeshaya by Saroj – සරෝජ් සමග සංදේශය’, authorities have called a tender involving the private-sector maintenance of the system.
The report says the BBMS had been maintained without charge for more than five years.
This development has generated discussion within the medical community and on social media.
Previous attempts by other parties to develop such a system using substantial government expenditure had reportedly failed.
Against that background, critics have questioned why authorities launched a tender while setting aside the doctor who voluntarily developed the existing platform.
The report also cites a social media post by Dr. Pushpika de Silva’s wife. Based on that post, allegations have surfaced suggesting that a commercial motive may be connected to the proposed transaction.
Those allegations remain claims raised in relation to the tender process.
System Goes Offline as Questions Intensify
Reports further claim that Dr. Pushpika de Silva withdrew from maintaining the National Blood Bank system amid the dispute.
The health authorities are also reported to have blocked access to the platform.
Subsequently, claims emerged that the system had been “hacked”. According to the investigative report, the platform was then completely deactivated.
As a result, staff at the blood bank have reportedly returned to recording information through handwritten documents, using the older manual process.
The failure of such a digital platform goes beyond an administrative inconvenience.
The system handles information linked to blood donations and patient requirements. Therefore, any prolonged disruption could affect how efficiently staff identify required blood groups and manage urgent patient needs.
The issue also raises concerns over continuity, security and the management of sensitive information.
Transparency and Data Protection Under Scrutiny
Analysts cited in the report argue that Sri Lanka’s state health sector already operates amid serious resource constraints.
Against that backdrop, they say authorities have a responsibility to protect valuable public assets developed through local expertise.
The immediate challenge is to resolve the BBMS issue transparently while ensuring that blood-bank operations continue without interruption.
Authorities must also safeguard the confidentiality of blood donor and patient information and address concerns surrounding the reported tender process.
At the same time, any solution must avoid unnecessary expenditure of public funds.
The controversy therefore raises several unanswered questions over the future of the software, its maintenance arrangements and the circumstances surrounding its reported deactivation.
Further details are expected in the investigative video programme ‘Sandeshaya by Saroj – සරෝජ් සමග සංදේශය’, which is due to be released soon.
