Public health: Central blood banks to be set up across Punjab, says Shahbaz

CM says bloods banks in Multan, Bahawalpur should be made operational

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that a centralised blood bank system would be introduced in the province.

He told a meeting the project would ensure provision of safe blood to patients in all divisions of the province. He ordered that central blood banks in Multan and Bahawalpur be made operation as early as possible. Sharif directed the authorities to set up a committee that should determine whether more than one blood bank was needed in any divisions.

The chief minister said that under a phased programme, nine centres will also be set up for the rehabilitation of handicapped people. He said that modern medical facilities were available at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Muzaffargarh.

He said apart from setting up modern hospitals in far-flung areas, health facilities were being upgraded at rural health centres and basic health units. He said that billions of rupees was being spent on the provision of free medical services to the poor.

Adviser to Chief Minster on Health Khwaja Salman Rafiq, Parliamentary Secretary on Health Khwaja Imran Nazir, the health secretary, the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital chairman and representatives of the International Committee Red Crescent attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2015.