Tainted blood: Speaker takes notice of unsafe blood transfusion

ISLAMABAD: The Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq took notice of unsafe blood transfusion in general and the recent case of HIV infected blood transfusion to two children in particular.

The speaker has asked the parliamentary secretary on health to present the report regarding the issue of unsafe blood transfusion and shortage of medicines in the hospitals.

The issue was highlighted in the lower house when MNA Shahida Rehmani on a call attention notice invited the attention of the house on Wednesday.

The notice was submitted by six Members of National Assembly on the recent reports of transfusing HIV infected blood to two children.

The speaker said the matter is serious and there are reports that two HIV-positive employees have also been working in the hospitals.

Recently, two siblings from Bhara Kahu – aged eight and nine – who needed regular blood transfusions due to a health issue, contracted HIV.

As they went to different hospitals, it is unclear which transfusion caused the children to get HIV.

Separately, the health ministry informed the house that about 17,224 HIV/Aids patients were registered in the country, 8,133 of whom were getting treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2017.