Perilous commerce: Illegal blood banks under govt’s scanner

BAHAWALPUR:

Commissioner Javed Akbar said on Sunday that a crackdown against illegal blood blanks would be initiated and action would be taken against those selling substandard blood.

He was speaking at a meeting with district officials.

Akbar said district administration had noted the proliferation of illegal blood banks in Bahawalpur. He said action would be taken against those found guilty. Akbar said provision of quality blood was necessary to save lives. He urged doctors to spread awareness about the need for using quality blood.

Akbar said banners would be placed in hospitals across Bahawalpur to spread awareness regarding this. He said a toll free number would be established to help public procure quality blood.

It was also decided in the meeting to computerise blood records at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital. Akbar said the step would facilitate the timely provision of healthy blood online.

He said health experts would begin holding seminars on the importance of quality blood next week. The commissioner said the government was committed to providing quality health services. Akbar said zero tolerance would be shown in this regard. He said state-of-the-art blood banks would be established in the district with German assistance. Akbar said the government was establishing the country’s first bone-marrow transplant centre in Bahawalpur.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2014.