KARACHI, May 19: The Health Adviser to Chief Minister, Faisal Malik, on Thursday said unregistered, illegal and substandard blood banks would be sealed after the promulgation of the Blood Bank Ordinance. Violators will get three years non-bailable sentence.

He was speaking at the sixth meeting of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) at a local hotel. The Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) has been made the competent authority in this regard, he added.

The adviser warned of legal action against blood banks involved in substandard blood transformation business and those running their business without registration.

While doctors found guilty in using blood from unregistered blood banks would also be tried and punished under the blood act.

In the second phase, he said, blood banks having inadequate facilities including blood screening, cross matching, grouping, etc would be prosecuted.

It was decided that people would be informed through media on how to get and use blood from registered blood banks.

The meeting was attended by Dr Farhana Memon, Additional Secretary Health Manzoor Memon, Sindh AIDS programme Manager Dr Seri Chand and representatives of blood banks.

—PPI