KARACHI, Jan 1: The Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) has given its approval for the registration of 26 blood banks in both the public and private sectors in the province, according to an official announcement.

Every blood bank functioning in the province is required to be registered with the SBTA under the Sindh Transfusion of Safe Blood Act, 1997.

The applications for registration were considered at a meeting, held after a long period of time, on Wednesday with the special secretary in the health department, Dr Abdul Majid, in the chair.

Until the fresh induction, there were a total of 83 registered blood banks functioning in the province — 26 in the public sector, 38 in the private sector and 19 belonging to NGOs.

SBTA Secretary Dr Zahid H. Ansari told Dawn that among the newly-approved blood banks, seven were being set up in the government sector, 10 in the private sector and nine belonged to NGOs. They are located in Karachi (17), Hyderabad (4), Jamshoro (1), Nawabshah (1), Larkana (2) and Naushehro Feroz (1).

Dr Ansari said the facilities were under obligation not to accept professional donors’ blood. They were also required to have separate department, staff and equipment for different sections, i.e. blood donation, selection, handling, care and donors’ safety. He said the blood banks were supposed to observe the SBTA-prescribed standing operating procedures.