Tender Notice for the procurement of equipment for blood centers

of all provinces published in the National Press and German Trade

and PPRA website

Workshop on Dissemination of Pakistan Standards on Healthcare and National Challenges and Opportunities

in Standardization The GIZ Health Sector Support Programme (HSSP) Pakistan organized a 2-day workshop on 9-10th September, 2013, at Bhurban to disseminate the Pakistan Standards on Healthcare and to discuss the challenges and opportunities in standardization. These standards have been developed under the auspices of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Ministry of Science and Technology. PSQCA established these Standards as per mandate given in sub-section (xvi) of section 8 of PSQCA Act No. VI of 1996. These Standards provide a framework to assess the quality of care provided in public and private hospitals and primary healthcare facilities and to improve quality in a structural manner. Distinguished speakers delivered lectures on Quality in Healthcare, National Standards on Healthcare, Standards on Primary Healthcare and Hospitals.

The Safe Blood Transfusion Programme was represented by Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer in the workshop. The event promoted an opportunity to interact with key stakeholders to discuss and share the progress on SBTP. The Standards and Guidelines developed by the Programme and the other documents of the SBT Programme, developed with support from GIZ, were on display in the workshop.

Editorial

The GIZ Health Sector Support Programme (HSSP) addresses topical health care

issues, such as blood transfusion and tuberculosis control, and combines this

with interventions to improve the health system. The programme is formally

structured into three components to achieve its specific objectives, including

human resource development, health systems funding and social insurance in

the event of illness and strengthening public and private health services. Each

component addresses the supply side (health service providers) as well as the

demand side (citizens and civil society groups). The safe blood transfusion

project is a sub-component of Component 3 (Services Delivery) of the GIZ

(HSSP). In the reporting month, GIZ organized a 2-day workshop to disseminate

the National Standards on Hospital and Primary Healthcare which will provide a

framework to assess the quality of care provided in Pakistan.

A very important development of the month was the decision of the Ministry

of National Health Services, Coordination and Regulation, to activate the

Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority by notifying a new Advisory Board. As

the Federal Ministry responsible for health regulations, this step is a practical

demonstration of the commitment of the Government to promote blood safety

in the country through strengthening of the regulatory framework. The IBTA

will work towards developing a model BT regulatory mechanism which can also

be emulated in the rest of the country.

Husaini Haematology and Oncology Trust, one of the leading transfusion service

models in the country has been active this month in conducting blood safety

awareness activities in Lahore and a thalassaemia screening in Thatta. This is a

remarkable public service initiative and needs to be performed in all cities to

control the new cases of thalassaemia. A meeting of the Thalassaemia

International Federation is going to be held next month (Oct 20-23) in Abu

Dhabi focusing on the prevention aspects of the disease. The SBT Programme

will be presenting a research paper from Pakistan at the event. Regarding the

infrastructure development, a high level foundation laying ceremony of the

Regional Blood Centre was held at HMC, Peshawar. The participation of the

Health Secretary and Minister for Health clearly indicate the government

commitment to achieve the goal of blood safety in the region.

The internship report of National University of Science and Technology (NUST)

students has also been published and available on the SBTP website. The report

envisages the future plan to improve the voluntary blood donation concept in

the ICT through the involvement of university students, an important initiative

towards the creation of a BDO network.

From this current issue, we are initiating a new section on Blood Donor

Organizations (BDOs) of Pakistan. This section will provide information about

various large BDOs in Pakistan including their operational capacities, strategies

of donor mobilization, names of centres to which they distribute blood, sources

of funding, registration and licensing status, future plans, and contact details.

These organizations play an important role in supply of safe blood to needy and

poor patients free of cost. The information presented was collected through a

questionnaire from 60 BDOs across Pakistan. All this information will also be

published collectively in an Inventory of BDOs, the first publication of its kind in

Pakistan. We encourage other BDOs to share their details with us for inclusion

in this database.

Prof. Hasan Abbas Zaheer

Project Director

Activation of Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (NHSR&C), as the federal ministry responsible for regulations and national coordination for all matters relating to health, has notified the new Advisory Board of the Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA) consisting of eminent hematologists, pathologists and public health experts. The IBTA will regulate the Islamabad based Blood Banks by registering, inspecting and issuing licenses to the centers fulfilling the eligibility criteria. The capacity building of the blood bank personnel and coordination with the provincial regulatory authorities and their strengthening also falls under the purview of the IBTA as it will be functioning under the M/o NHSRC. In this regard, local and national workshops for advocacy and sensitization of the policy makers and capacity building of the stakeholders will be organized by IBTA.

The strengthening of the blood transfusion regulatory framework is a key component of the German government funded Safe Blood Transfusion Project. During the past few years, national and international experts have made valuable contributions in the Project including the development of operational documents like SoPs, Manuals, Guidelines etc. Implementation of these documents in the blood banks will make the IBTA regulatory work more effective.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of RBC Peshawar

The Foundation stone laying ceremony of the Regional Blood Centre (RBC) to be constructed at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was held on September 9, 2013.

Dr. Fakhre Alam, Secretary Health, KP welcomed the German delegation and on behalf of the people and Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appreciated the generous support provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan in the Health sector. The Secretary committed full cooperation in initiating blood transfusion reforms in the province

in collaboration with Ministry of Health and Federal Republic of Germany through KfW and GIZ. He also informed that the blood safety law will be processed soon for approval by the provincial assembly. Dr Stefan Oswald (Head of Division Afghanistan/Pakistan, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) addressed the participants and said that German Government will continue their support for Pakistan to improve the life of people of Pakistan. He also announced a grant of 10 million Euros for Safe Blood Transfusion Project Phase-II.

The Foundation Stone was laid by Dr. Stefan Oswald (Head of Division Afghanistan/Pakistan, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Mr. Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Minister for Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Julian Pfaefflin, Policy Officer Pakistan Division, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Ms Mandy Zeckra, Economic Counsellor, German Embassy in Pakistan, Dr. Masuma Zaidi, Project Manager Health Sector, EPOS staff and senior officials of the DoH Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Husaini Blood Bank organize seminars on Safe Blood Transfusion Practices in Lahore

Lack of appropriate manpower is one of the major constraints in the development and strengthening of blood transfusion services in Pakistan. To fulfill this gap, Husaini Blood Bank, Karachi, organized capacity building seminars in Lahore at Mid City Hospital and Jinnah Medical and Dental College. Dr. Saeed Ahmed Blood Bank Consultant and Head Husaini Blood Bank delivered state of the art lectures on “Safe Blood Transfusion Practices”. The topic covered included donor mobilization and retention, blood screening strategies, component therapy, hospital transfusion committees and management of transfusion reactions.

Husaini Thalassaemia Prevention Camp in Sindh

The Husaini Thalassaemia Center, a project of Husaini Hematology & Oncology Trust, in collaboration with “All Pakistan Memon Federation Health Board” organized a free thalassaemia screening camp at Thatta, Sindh. A total of 200 families were targeted and screened for possible thalassaemia carriers. The carrier rate in these families was 4.75% which nearly matches the national figure of 6%. Thalassaemia is a big burden on the blood transfusion services in Pakistan with a carrier rate of 6%. Every patient needs regular transfusions which is a burden on the family as well as on the transfusion services. The best option available is the screening of families to identify carriers and restrict the spread of this genetic disease.

NUST Interns Report Published

The students from National University of Science and Technology (NUST) completed their internship at the Blood Bank of PIMS and SBT Programme in July, 2013. The internship report has been published and

a dissemination ceremony is planned soon at NUST. The Report can be accessed at the SBTP website. The Report briefs about the Interns practical work at the blood bank, participation in

seminars/workshops and future plan for collaboration between NUST and PIMS/SBTP.

Preparatory Study for Safe Blood Transfusion Project Phase-II

Dr. Guenter Merk, Public Health Specialist visited Pakistan from 26 Aug to 6 Sept 2013 and conducted a preparatory study of Safe Blood Transfusion Project

Phase-II. He held consultative meetings with Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Planning & Development Division, KfW, GIZ, Departments of Health Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Husaini, Fatimid, Pakistan Red Crescent blood donor organizations. The study will be utilized by KfW for planning the Phase II of the Project.

Abbottonians Medical Association®, Abbottabad

“Every day I shall do at least one good deed that will please a fellow human being, without the distinction of class, colour or creed”. I shall do the best that I can, to help people who are old, crippled or in distress”. With this spirit and love for the countrymen that Old Boys from one of the most prestigious institution of the Country, Abbottabad Public School & College, Abbottabad, conceived the idea of forming Abbottonians Medical Association (AMA) for making the difference; making a difference from sickness to health, from pain to relief, from grief to happiness, from poverty to progress. AMA is registered with The Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance, 1961 (Registration # DSW/NWFP-1458) and The Trust Act, 1882 (Registration # 907). It is working in the field of social welfare since 1990. The Association is governed by a Board of Directors comprising of 11 members. In 1997, AMA established a Blood/Thalassaemia Center, where blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy is provided to over 200 registered thalassaemics on regular basis. AMA has a well-equipped Clinical Laboratory, where routine as well as specialized tests are available on subsidized rates. The Association is also an associate member of Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) and also founding Member of Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan (TFP). The annual budget of the society is maintained through grants and zakat/fitrana. About 800 regular blood donors are registered with AMA and Blood Camps are held in all major educational institutions of the province on a regular basis. Voluntary blood donation is promoted through Advocacy Seminars, Poster and Essay competitions. Some of the Key messages include:

Time You Spend in Donating Blood can Mean a Lifetime for Someone

A Gift of Blood is a Gift of Life, Donate Blood and Save a Life

Every Life is Precious… If Only You Care, Donate Blood, It was meant to circulate

Every Drop of Your Blood Counts; It Adds a Day in the Life of a Thalassaemic Child

The blood units collected are given to AMA Thalassaemia Center, Ayub Teaching Hospital, and DHQ Hospital Abbottabad. AMA played a key role in the disasters like Earthquake of 2005, where it ensured regular supply of blood to the earthquake victims admitted in various hospitals of Abbottabad. AMA also managed regular supply of blood components during the last year’s crisis of hemorrhagic fever. In order to improve our services, more advanced equipment for blood collection, storage and component therapy is needed. Future plans include availability of aphaeresis and Hb electrophoresis at AMA blood centre.

Dr. Noaman Siddiqui

Secretary General

Abbottonians Medical Association®

11/12-D, Awan Plaza, Mandian,

Abbottabad

Cell: 0301-8175728

E-mail: noaman888@yahoo.com

Website: www.ama.org.pk