KARACHI, Sept 6: A couple of unregistered blood banks have been served notices by the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority following inspections which found that the two did not meet the standards expected of them, it was learnt on Monday.

Dr Kamran Awan, deputy chief of the SBTA, told Dawn on Monday that the two blood banks - one in Taj Medical Complex and the other in Kharadar - were in possession of some expired blood bags at the time of the surprise inspections. One inspection was carried out on Friday and the other on Saturday.

After the expired blood bags were discovered that were supposed to be sold to the families of patients, the two blood banks were served notices, said Dr Awan. He disclosed that the blood bank in Taj Medical Complex had written on Monday to the authority, saying that they were closing shop. A reply from the blood bank in Kharadar was awaited.

Answering a question, he said the committee conducting the raids comprised, besides him, Dr Shahid Jawad, a pathologist, Dr Shafi Mohammad Rahu and Dr Nazeer A. Kolachi. He said some of the dubious blood bags had expired in June or July and others in August.

Dr Awan pointed out that a third unregistered blood bank, situated in Nazimabad, had also been visited but the committee members were not allowed inside. "We are going to visit this facility again and if we are not allowed to inspect it, we will take the necessary action," he said.

He said some government officials were operating blood banks, which was against the departmental rules. "We are going to take action against all such people." In response to a question, Dr Awan said that since the launch of the ongoing campaign against the unregistered blood banks, he and his colleagues at the SBTA had received a number of calls, threatening them of 'dire consequences'.

"Some people said we would be transferred while others said exemplary punishment would be meted out to each one of us."

When asked if he was intimidated or not by these calls, Dr Awan said: "No, not at all. We have made it clear to all concerned that we are going to keep on doing what we are doing now."

He claimed that Faisal Malik, adviser on health to the chief minister, had ordered the formulation of a summary under which the SBTA's inspection committee would be authorized to seal the unregistered blood banks that indulged in questionable practices.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the health department said the adviser on health to the chief minister had taken notice of the discovery of expired blood bags at some of the unregistered blood banks which had been inspected recently. "At the moment we are looking into the legality, or otherwise, of sealing these blood banks."

He said after vetting the relevant laws, the health department would send some suggestions to the chief minister and then action would be taken accordingly against the blood banks operating in violation of standard practices.

Measures would be taken against all the blood banks which did not meet the requisite standards, thereby endangering the lives of the patients, he claimed. Mr Malik, he added, was determined to stamp out corruption and dubious practices from the health sector.