Public health: ‘Efforts afoot for safe blood transfusion’
Specialised Healthcare Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah directed the authorities concerned that registration of public blood banks should be completed in seven days. He said health EDOs would be assigned duties for the purpose. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE: Blood Transfusion Authority Secretary Iftikhar Ahmed said on Saturday the authority had registered 269 blood banks since 2006 and issued 56 licences.
During a meeting with Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique, Ahmed said registration of 337 blood banks was in process. Institute of Blood Transfusion Services Director Zafar Iqbal, Red Crescent Society Secretary Mahmood Qadir and representatives of Fatmeed Foundation attended the meeting.
Rafique said efforts were underway for the approval of the Punjab Safe Blood Transfusion Act, 2016. He said a standing committee was scrutinising the draft bill. Hopefully, he said, it would be presented in the next Provincial Assembly session. He said he hoped that the Blood Transfusion Authority would perform more effectively following the legislation. Rafique directed that registration process of blood banks be expedited. DCOs and other districts officers should be active for the purpose, the advisor said. He called for holding meetings with the Punjab Healthcare Commission and the Law Department in this regard.
Specialised Healthcare Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah directed the authorities concerned that registration of public blood banks should be completed in seven days. He said health EDOs would be assigned duties for the purpose.
He ordered that licensing of blood banks be completed in 60 days. He said a meeting of the Blood Transfusion Authority would be convened to review progress.
Original news : http://tribune.com.pk/story/1157245/public-health-efforts-afoot-safe-blood-transfusion/