PESHAWAR, Sept 26: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah has said that the government is encouraging the private sector to provide free medical help to thalassaemia patients, and urged welfare organisations to ensure high quality of service.

This he said during his visit to the Hamza Foundation of Blood Transfusion Services and Thalassaemia Control.

The minister inspected different units of the facility and exchanged views with the patients.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the health department would welcome expanding role of private sectors in providing blood transfusion services.

He urged such organizations to maintain transparency in their activities and underlined the need of collaboration and positive competition among the welfare bodies.

The minister advised the charity organizations to extend its services at divisional level.

He asked welfare bodies to focus on creating awareness about thalassaemia and convince people to get their blood tested to avoid transfer of the disease to next generation.

Mr Inayatullah said that the government had allocated Rs100 million for the assistance of health facilities rendering service on charity basis.

Briefing the minister about activities of the foundation, its chairman Ejaz Khan said that the foundation was providing free services to the patients.

He said that the foundation had collected 370 bags of blood during the last two months and distributed it among 275 patients. —APP