KARACHI, Oct 2: A monitoring team of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) has sealed off two of its registered blood banks for not meeting the licensing and recognition criteria and for providing substandard products to patients.

The SBTA also closed an illegal blood bank operating in the Kharadar area.

Sources privy to the monitoring activities of the SBTA said that after getting complaints about sale of certain substandard blood product, a team on Monday conducted a surprise inspection of a blood bank operating for the past some years near the Civil Hospital Karachi. During investigation, it emerged that the bank, which was registered with the SBTA, had procured the blood product from another SBTA registered blood bank in Kharadar area.

Speaking to Dawn, SBTA Secretary Dr Zahid Ansari said that the blood banks were doing business in the absence of pathologist and other prescribed facilities.

Meanwhile, the monitoring team discovered and sealed off an illegal bank operating without SBTA recognition or fulfilling the criteria in the Kharadar area.