25 April 2004	Sunday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, April 24: The governor of Sindh imposed a ban on opening of new blood banks in Karachi on Saturday. The ban will be in force until the provincial government comes up with a practical plan , suggesting solutions to the problems facing the blood transfusion facilities in the province.

Speaking as chief guest at a seminar held on "safe blood transfusion and malaria: prevention and control" organised by the Ziauddin Medical University (ZMU), Dr Ishratul Ibad also instructed the health department to come up with guidelines which must be followed by each new healthcare facility.

However, some participants of the seminar told this reporter that the governor's order would, in a way, legitimize all the existing blood banks even though many of them did not follow any local or foreign guidelines. They were of the view that all the blood banks which remained unrecognized by the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority should simply be closed down.

In his speech, meanwhile, Dr Ibad said many blood transfusion facilities lacked both trained manpower and funds. "That's why there were many deficiencies in the blood transfusion system," he remarked.

Legislation on safe blood showed that the authorities were serious in combating the menace of tainted blood, he remarked. "And let me add that the government will not allow the unregistered blood banks to operate in the province."

In an effort to encourage voluntary donation of blood, the governor himself offered to donate blood to the ZMU. "From now on, I am a registered blood donor with the Ziauddin University."

Dr Farhana Memon of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority said that her department found it difficult to monitor and control the standards in the 600-odd blood banks operating in the province because it was underfunded and lacked the other resources.

She acknowledged that the medical community had generally failed the people it was supposed to serve. She said only eight blood banks in the province had been registered by her authority. "In comparison, some 120 have applied for registration."

Dr G.N. Kakepoto of the Aga Khan University dwelled on the subject of quality assurance in the blood banks. He was of the view that not only should a good blood bank have written guidelines, ensuring high quality, but also should participate in an external quality control programme, perhaps run by a foreign agency.

Dr Kakepoto revealed that many blood banks used reagents and kits of dubious quality. "I suggest that only the reagents and kits validated by the World Health Organization should be used by the blood banks."

Dr Asim Hussain, Chancellor of the ZMU, said it was simply impossible to effectively monitor the performance of the 600-odd blood banks which were operating in the province. He pointed out that some 500 banks had not even applied for registration.

Dr Hussain expressed his apprehension that these 120 blood banks might remain outside the system for ever, to the detriment of the blood transfusion system. He suggested that a ban be imposed on the opening of new blood banks.

In his hard-hitting presentation, Dr S. Abdul Mujeeb of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre claimed that the government and the medical community was wrong in focussing only on the blood banks. "The problems afflicting the transfusion system cannot be resolved simply by focussing on the banks."

There were four stakeholders so far as the transfusion system was concerned.

"Each of these will have to be dealt with properly if improvements are to be brought about in the system."

Similarly, the healthcare providers should steer clear of the irrational use of blood. The authorities should effectively monitor the performance of the blood banks and also ensure that the relevant laws and norms are followed. "And lastly, the blood banks should endeavour to improve the standards obtaining in their institutions."

Prof Naeem A. Jafarey, vice-chancellor of the university, Shahid Aziz Siddiqi and Dr Tahir Shamsi also spoke on the occasion.