Special bodies asked to crack down on illegal blood banks

Provincial Health Department has asked the special committees constituted in each district to crackdown on illegal blood banks to stop their campaign till further orders, as complaints were received against the committees that these have allegedly indulged in taking heavy bribes from the owners of illegal blood banks instead of taking action them.
Sources told Business Recorder that Sindh Health department had formed special committees to launch crackdown against illegal blood banks operating in the province especially in Karachi. The department formed a seven-member committee for each district of the province with Provincial Programme Manager and Secretary of Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) as its Chairman.
Other members included representatives from executive district office (health) concerned, SBTA's focal persons, representatives from district administrations and town health officers, assistant programme managers and monitoring officers of the SBTA. "It was a concerted effort to take action against any blood banks operating illegally in the province with the help of district administrations and concerned health officials but unfortunately the committee members have indulged in getting bribes," a senior official of the department said.
The committees had to monitor more than 170 registered blood banks to make sure that they are working in line with the specifications and prerequisites stipulated by the authorities. The committees had been formed after complaints of illegal blood banks' operation in the province particularly in Karachi. The committees were given the task to make sure that all such illegal facilities should be closed.
Sources claimed that around 500,000 blood bags were transfused in a month in province and any lax could result in a huge catastrophe. Sources said the monitoring committees had been asked to adopt and develop a uniform policy covering all aspects of safe blood transfusion and ensure transfusion of safe, healthy and screened blood and blood products.
But, due to many complaints against the members of such committees, the department has asked the committees to stop the work until further orders. They said that most of the complaints have been received from Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Jamshoro and other districts. The complaints highlighted that the committee members are asking for bribes and regular monthlies for allowing the illegal banks to continue their activities in future.
Secretary Health has asked the concerned officials to stop the work and a meeting would be held soon after Eid check the authenticity of the complaints. If any member found guilty, he may be re moved and new member may be inducted in the committees, sources added.