KARACHI, Dec 11: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Saturday issued directive for enforcement of newly formulated laws and regulations regarding blood transfusion from Jan 1 and the ban on operation of illegal blood banks.

Addressing a high-level meeting at Governor's House, Dr Ibad directed the attachment of legal officers with the Blood Transfusion Authority for ensuring implementation of laws.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Health Adviser Faisal Malik, Local Government Adviser Waseem Akhtar, Health Secretary Dr Naushad Shaikh, Dr Asim of Ziauddin University Hospital, Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority's Secretary Dr Farhana Memon and other officials related to the fields of health and law.

The governor took strict notice of the ongoing scrutiny of various blood samples under pool testing by certain laboratories and said that this way the identification of HIV could not be correctly established, while separate fee was charged for every scrutiny.

He called for strict action against those involved in this practice.

Ishratul Ibad stressed on maintaining complete record of blood use in every hospital. He directed the respective hospital officials to bring the same into the knowledge of Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority regularly.

He directed that the process of preservation of record and it's transmission to the lood transfusion authority should be made compulsory.

The governor also announced that only licensed and legal blood banks would remain operative from Jan 1, 2005. In this regard, he called for keeping the people in general informed and said that they should have their blood requirement fulfilled from legal blood banks only.

He further directed that blood banks should be asked to conspicuously display their legal documents. It was decided that blood banks would have to obtain ISO certification and external quality control certificate to continue their operation in future.

The meeting decided that blood banks would be issued licences temporarily for six months and the certificate for extended period would only be given to those who get themselves ISO certified.

Dr Ibad directed that the requirements, which blood banks would have to look after, should be determined for inclusion in the ISO certification. He issued directive for constitution of committees and sub-committees throughout the province for monitoring the activities of blood banks and regulations concerning the safe blood transfusion.

He observed that unsafe blood transfusion and pursuing unhealthy activities amounted to playing with the lives of people. In this regard, he said that exemplary action would be taken against those found guilty.

The governor pointed out that as per law such elements could be awarded punishment of imprisonment and heavy fines.

Earlier, Sindh Health Adviser Faisal Malik apprised the meeting about the report of committee, set up with regard to framing of regulations for blood transfusion. -APP