Illegal blood banks spreading disease

Around 1,600 blood banks across province need to be regulated

LAHORE: In case anyone in the city is in urgent need of blood, either for themselves or a loved one, it is best advised that they ask a relative for a donation instead of visiting a blood bank.

The Express Tribune has learnt that blood at these facilities is not properly screened.

Unfortunately, illegal blood banks are thriving under the nose of the health department and spreading diseases like hepatitis, HIV and thalassemia. According to the health department, there are at least 1,600 blood banks across the province and they need to be regulated.



“It seems the Punjab health department is unaware that these blood banks are the cause of spreading diseases,” said a doctor who works at the Mayo Hospital. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said that the Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority (PBTA) had never conducted any raids during the course of his career.

He said people are associated with blood banks outside hospitals, colleges and public places. The doctor added they encourage people to donate blood, but later sell it without a screening process.

“These bloods banks are not registered with the PBTA and it is understood that the substance sold has not been screened,” he said. The doctor added people who buy bottles from these banks catch diseases like HIV and hepatitis.

He said even the most known blood banks do not bother to get the blood screened and are just interested in making money. “It is a pity that our health department is a silent spectator,” he added. “Most of the medical stores operating at government hospitals are also part of this illegal network.”

Hepatitis Awareness Week 

Hepatitis awareness week is being observed from May 22 till May 27 across the province. According to the Punjab Hepatitis Control Programme, around 80,000 patients are registered with them. Similarly, at least 52,000 HIV patients are registered with the AIDs Control Programme.

“This figure is just the tip of the iceberg. People are frequently falling prey to these deadly diseases, said a doctor at the Jinnah hospital. It is a wake-up call for the government, he said, adding that a crackdown should be against this illegal network to protect people from diseases.



Role of PBTA

Recently, the health department re-established the PBTA and appointed a new director, Dr Muhammad Athar. He was instructed to start a crackdown against people involved in this illegal business.

The blood banks have been asked to either get registered with the PBTA by May 20 or face the music.

Punjab Minister for Primary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir, in a statement, stressed the need to reactivate PBTA. He also directed them to complete the process of all blood bank registration and checking by May 22.

He asked officials to launch an aggressive awareness and publicity campaign to create awareness among the masses over the issue. He also directed city district CEOs to inspect all blood banks in their respective areas and ensure the implementation of the rules and regulations of the Blood Transfusion Authority.

“We are fully aware of this illegal network and you will see how we deal with them after May 20,” a health department spokesperson told The Express Tribune.  He added district CEOs have been given a mandate to conduct raids and encourage the blood banks to register themselves with the PBTA by May 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2017.