Steps being taken for safe blood transfusion, says Dr Rashid

Says public as well as private blood banks to be given training

LAHORE:

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that new measures were being introduced to ensure safe blood transfusion in the province and illegal or unregistered blood banks cannot be allowed to operate.

She stated this while inaugurating a new office of the Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority (PBTA) here on Friday. She appreciated the team of the PBTA especially its Secretary Dr Shahnaz Naseem for taking the organisation to the right track. The provincial health minister further said the staff of public and private blood banks would be provided training of blood transfusion.

The minister revealed that a complaint cell had been set up at the PBTA as well to resolve the public issues. She said that the administration of teaching hospitals concerned would be responsible for blood banks in their respective premises. "We are trying to promote private sector through support of the Punjab Health Foundation," she added.

Read PHC to register Gujranwala’s blood banks

She expressed her wish that private sector should come forward and set up modern blood banks in the province.

She said that all blood banks were now being monitored and unregistered blood banks would be closed down.

She disclosed the PBTA had inspected 1,097 blood banks and efforts were being made to register all blood banks in the next six months.

"Safe blood transfusion is integral to surgeries and no compromise can be made on this," the minister said.

She urged the people not to take blood from anywhere except approved blood banks.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2021.