A meeting of Board of Governors Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority was held in the committee room of S&GAD Department Punjab Civil Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chairman Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority and Minister for Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique. Among the participants were all the eminent hematologist including Prof. Nissar Ahmed, Prof.Tariq Rehmani, Prof.Shahida Mohsin,Prof.Mona Aziz, Add. Sec Technical Dr. Salman Shahid, Director AIDS Control Programme, Dr. Farhana from Fatmid Foundation, Representative from Red Crescent, Dr.Mushtaq Suleriya from Punjab Health Care Commission, Director Institute of Blood Transfusion Service Punjab Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Dr. Arif Tabassum and Professors of Medicine and Surgery from different teaching Hospitals. Professor Hassan Abbas Zaheer National Coordinator Safe Blood Transfusion Programme from Islamabad along with his team also participated.
Professor Hassan Abbas Zaheer appreciated the efforts of the Punjab Government for improvement of Blood Transfusion Sector in the province. Secretary Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority Dr Muhammad Athar presented the progress report of the Authority. Various measures introduced for the improvement of blood transfusion practices in the province with the aim to provide safe, healthy and sufficient blood to all the patients in the province. All the participants appreciated the efforts of the Government for the improvement of blood transfusion system in the Punjab. Secretary Blood Transfusion Authority also highlighted the importance of enforcement of Punjab Blood Transfusion Safety Act 2016 and efforts put forward by Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique at different stages of preparation and implementation of Act. Many other decisions were made. Khawaja Salman Rafique directed all the concerned to prepare a roadmap for improvement in Public Sector Blood Units across the province. Various inputs were given by the participants. Secretary Blood Transfusion Authority highlighted the need for close collaboration between Punjab Healthcare Commission and Punjab Blood Transfusion Authority. Khawaja Salman Rafique appreciated the contribution of all the participants and said that collective efforts are needed to introduce a robust and vibrant system to check the blood transfusion services in Punjab and making the blood banks of public as well as private sector according to the international standards.
