KARACHI, Sept 15: Six blood banks were sealed on Wednesday following inspection by a team headed by Faisal Malik, adviser on health to the chief minister.

According to Dr Kamran Awan of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA), three of the blood banks were situated in Nazimabad Town, two in Clifton Town and one in Saddar Town. He said some expired blood bags had been seized at the facilities.

"In addition, some equipment were also found which were not operational even though they should be," Dr Awan told Dawn. He said the officials present during the inspections were Faisal Malik, Dr Fazal Illahi Memon, Dr Farhana Memon, Dr Suresh and Dr Kamran Awan himself.

Answering a question, he said a high-level meeting would be held later this month which was expected to be presided over by adviser on health to the chief minister. The meeting would look into all the cases in which expired blood bags had been seized at various blood banks.

Recently expired blood bags were found at several blood banks which were inspected by the officials of the SBTA. One of these blood banks was situated near the Taj Medical Complex and the other one in Kharadar.

The blood bank near the Taj Medical Complex was closed down. Its administration specifically wrote a letter to the SBTA, informing it that it had been shut down.

The SBTA officials had sought to inspect a blood bank in Nazimabad but were denied entry by the management. This case will be discussed in the upcoming meeting. Dr Awan said that a number of unregistered blood banks were operating in the city which did not meet internationally-recognized standards. "It is common knowledge that an overwhelming number of these blood banks deal in blood of dubious quality."

He was of the opinion that one reason behind the rise in prevalence of some infections could be transfusion of blood not screened properly for AIDS, Hepatitis and syphilis. "This is something which should be done at all the blood banks, whether registered or unregistered. "But we at the SBTA are not sure at all if this is being done properly."