Kh Salman directs health department to accelerate the pace of registration of blood banks

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has directed the concerned officers to accelerate the pace of registration of blood banks for ensuring safe blood transfusion to the patients. He said that no leniency would be shown to substandard and fake blood banks spreading diseases among the people. Kh. Salman said that stringent laws are being formulated to monitor blood banks in Punjab.

He said this while presiding over a meeting of Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority (PBTA) at Institute of Blood Transfusion here on Monday.

Besides, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Kh. Imran Nazir, Dr. Nadia Aziz MPA, DG Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz, Additional Secretary Health (Technical) Dr. Salman Shahid Secretary PBTA Dr. Jaffar Saleem, Professors of Haematology of PGMI, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Services Hospital and representatives of Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Fatmeed Foundation, CMH Lahore, Shaikh Zayed Hospital and Punjab AIDS Control Programme attended the meeting.

It was decided that once again all the blood banks would be intimated regarding the registration with PBTA through advertisements in the newspapers and after passing three months the blood banks who did not contact with the authority for registration would not be permitted to operate and such blood banks would be sealed.

The meeting recommended for strict action against substandard and fake blood banks in the province. Kh. Imran Nazir said that without taking strict action against the defaulters, things would not be streamlined. Kh. Salman Rafique said that all the blood banks of public and private sector would be registered with Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority and without registration no blood bank would be allowed to operate. He directed that special arrangements should be made to celebrate World Blood Donors Day on 24^th June.

Meanwhile, Kh. Salman Rafique, on, behalf of Chief Minister Punjab gave a cheque for Rs.50 million as a grant to a representative of Shalimar Trust Hospital at DG Health Office, here on Monday.

While talking to the media men, Kh. Salman Rafique said that Punjab government would continue to patronize and provide financial assistance to such institutions which are rendering valuable services to the humanity.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that Shalimar Trust Hospital is upgrading different specialties including cardiac facilities and the hospital is providing best treatment facilities to the people. He disclosed that government is seriously considering to double the annual grant of the Shalimar Hospital upto Rs.100 million.