The Health Regulatory Authority (HRA) has directed the private sector blood banks to get registered with the Health Regulatory Authority, NWFP, under the 'NWFP Province Medical and Health Institutions Regulation of Healthcare Services Ordinance 2002' within two weeks.
The HRA has urged the registered blood banks to maintain at least the minimum safety standards. It merits mentioning here that the HRA, NWFP, has arranged a six-week intensive course for the staff of the registered private blood banks for improving their services.
The Authority warned that those blood banks which failed to meet minimum safety standards would be dealt with strictly and, apart from closing such blood banks, a fine of up to Rs one million, or imprisonment up to seven years, or both, could also be awarded to them.