KARACHI, Sept 30: A health department official who played a key role in launching a drive against the unregistered blood banks has been facing pressure from both within the department and without, according to well-placed sources.

The sources told Dawn on Thursday that the official - Dr Kamran Awan of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) - was receiving threatening calls almost on a daily basis. The calls were ostensibly made by people whose interests were hurt by the closure of the blood banks which dealt in expired products.

The sources added that some people within the department had also started speaking openly against Dr Awan. And a move was actually afoot to transfer him to a position outside the SBTA.

The chief of SBTA, Dr Farhana Memon, acknowledged that Dr Awan was facing pressure from outside the health department. However, she declined to confirm if he was likely to be transferred soon.

She said nine blood banks had been registered during the latest meeting of the SBTA, which was held a few days ago. These blood banks were controlled by the following healthcare organizations: Ziauddin Hospital, Keamari chapter; Ziauddin Hospital, Nazimabad chapter; Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton chapter; OMI Hospital; Anklesaria Hospital; Aga Khan University Hospital; Bismillah Taqi Hospital; Baqai Hospital; and, National Institute of Child Health.

With the registration of these nine facilities, the total number of registered blood banks had gone up to 17, she added. She told this reporter that two committees had been established during the meeting, one under the leadership of Iqbal Daudpota and the other under the chairmanship of Dr Abdul Mujeeb of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

The committee headed by Mr Daudpota would liaise with the law department to acquire the services of a special magistrate so that punitive actions, including registration of FIRs, could be taken against the erring blood banks.

She added that there were 450 blood banks in the province of which 49 had been given notices for closure due to various reasons. Some 150 blood banks had applied for registration to the Authority.

Dr Memon said seven of the blood banks which were given notices had been closed down. In Karachi there were 102 blood banks of which 52 had applied for registration.