Crackdown on Karachi blood banks
By Mubashir Zaidi
BBC correspondent in Karachi


Authorities in the southern Pakistani province of Sindh are to bring criminal cases against unregistered blood banks in Karachi.

Officials accuse the banks of selling blood and screening kits past expiry dates, endangering public health.

Seven banks have been closed and another 49 issued warnings, blood transfusion officials said.

Owners of banks selling expired blood could face two years in jail and a $17,000 fine under Sindh law.



Raids

Dr Farhana Memon, head of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, told the BBC there had been a rise in private blood banks in the province, and in Karachi in particular.



The authority raided seven blood banks in Karachi on 14 September and recovered a large quantity of expired blood bags and screening kits.

She said the banks had no trained staff, no proper storage facilities and no doctors available when they were raided.

"After what we have seen, I for one wouldn't allow my doctors to inject this blood in me even if I was in a critical condition," Dr Memon said.

She said using blood beyond the 35-day expiry date risked causing major health complications, including kidney failure or severe infection.

According to the government, only nine blood banks in Karachi have been registered out of more than 100 believed to be operating.

The authorities say that after their campaign, only 30-35 blood banks will be allowed to be registered and will have to operate on a non-profit basis. The rest now face closure. Under the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority Act of 1997, the owners of blood banks face up to two years in prison and a fine of 1m rupees ($17,000) if found guilty of selling expired blood.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...ia/3697736.stm

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