Punjab Government issues funds for reactivation of Punjab Bloodline

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that crackdown will soon be started against unauthorized blood banks and those not applying for registration with Blood Transfusion Authority (BTA). He directed that BTA should once again give advertisement in the newspapers and it will be last opportunity for blood banks to apply for registration, otherwise action will be started against them. He further said that no leniency would be shown to blood banks spreading diseases in the society.

He stated this while presiding over 6^th meeting of Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority, here today. Member Punjab Assembly Dr. Nadia, Director General Health Headquarters Dr. Jamil Chaudhry, Prof. Ashtar Ali of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Prof. Nauman Malik of PGMI, Director BTS, Brig. Dr. Maqbool Alam of Combined Military Hospital Lahore, Dr. Shahid Pervaiz representative of Fatimeed Foundation, Secretary BTA Dr. Jafar Saleem, officers of social welfare and other departments were present on the occasion.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that it has been decided to constitute a committee for issuing license to those blood banks after scrutiny of documents which have applied for registration with BTA. The committee would comprise Professor of Hematology Dr. Nauman Malik, Brig. Dr. Maqbool Alam, Director Health Jamil Chaudhry and Dr. Jafar Saleem.

Director General Punjab Information Technology Board Aamir Chaudhry gave a briefing regarding Punjab bloodline to the meeting. He informed that bloodline was set up on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister in 2011 for providing blood to the patients during dengue virus. He said that bloodline has data of about 50 thousand blood donors who can prove to be helpful in saving the life of injured persons and patients in any emergent situation. He informed that after dengue virus, this project could not remain functional.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that he will request Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to provide funds for reactivation of Punjab Bloodline. He directed PITB to submit a note to him in this regard. The advisor directed Director Blood Transfusion Authority Dr. Mubashar Atiq to chalk out an immediate training programme for providing training to the staff working in blood banks and for this purpose, guidance should be sought from the professors of Pathology and Hematology. He also directed that a summary should be submitted to him for filling vacant posts of Assistant Professors and other staff in Blood Transfusion Authority.