Punjab hospitals suffer absence of hepatitis C test kits

LAHORE: Hepatitis C test kits have disappeared from blood banks of government hospitals in the province including Lahore, thereby causing huge difficulties to the patients needing blood transfusion.

Blood Transfusion Services has not provided kits to public sector hospitals in required numbers for over the last one week, thus causing severe shortage of necessary item at blood banks. The management is asking blood donors to purchase kits from the market so that necessary test can be carried out before blood transfusion.

Staff at blood banks said that the shortage was due to delay in provision of kits by the Blood Transfusion Services. They said that there was no other option except asking donors to purchase kits from the market.

Meanwhile, Advisor to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafiq has directed EDOs Health of all the districts to pay full attention to further improve the performance up to union council level. Chairing monthly meeting of EDOs Health at Chief Minister’s Secretariat the other day, he said that the districts, tehsils and union councils showing poor performance should be identified so that necessary steps could be taken for improving their performance. 

Secretary Health Dr Ijaz Munir, Director General (Health) Dr Zahid Pervaiz, WHO‘s representative Ubaid Islam, Melinda Gates Foundation representative Dr Aslam Ch, UNICEFs and other institutions representatives besides Directors of different health programs and EDOs (Health) of all the districts attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the performance of each district with regard to EPI, Mother-and-child health program, Anti-measles campaign 2014, Dengue control, Lady health workers program and the steps for purchase and availability of medicines for basic health units and other hospitals.

The meeting decided an ensuring provision of 15 and 25 liter petrol per month to vaccinators and supervisors respectively for implementation EPI Program so that they could cover their specific areas for vaccination of children. Secretary Health directed all the EDOs (Health) to ensure supply of petrol to all the vaccinators as per schedule.