Blood theft: Controversial PIMS chief technologist reappointed

Khan was accused of stealing blood and equipment, swindling donors.

ISLAMABAD:

A former chief technologist at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), accused of stealing blood bags among other improprieties, has been reappointed.

The hospital administration’s move to reinstate Nasarullah Khan has not been welcomed by most hospital employees. One employee said that Khan was previously held for issuing infected blood to haemophilia and thalassaemia patients including children.

An inquiry carried out during Khan’s last tenure held him the prime suspect in the many incidents of stolen blood bags, sale of a questionable energy supplement to donors and other irregularities at the blood bank.

Former head of pathology Dr Anwarul Haq alleged that Khan also connived with various private clinics and hospitals and the inquiry committee found Pims blood bags there.

Besides this, he used to sell a powdered energy supplement to blood donors. He used to keep the powder in the cafeteria and sold it for Rs200.

Haq claimed that when any staff member used to point out his misdeeds, Khan would threaten them. “He has strong political connections, due to which he has been reinstated,” he added.

When questioned about Khan’s reinstatement, Pims Blood Bank in-charge Dr Ashok Kumar said, “Everybody has some negative and positive points. We should ignore the negatives and consider the positives, and the same was done with Khan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2012.