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The absence of an adequate, effective, safe and affordable National Blood Transfusion Service is an important health system problem that Pakistan faces today. The requirement for blood transfusion for potentially preventable maternal morbidity and mortality is quite high in Pakistan. Over 50% of under privilege mothers have hemoglobin level less then 10 g/dl (normal range 11.5 – 13 g/dl). The same is true of children below 5 years of age, 85 percent of whom have hemoglobin level below 10 g/dl (normal range 13 – 15 g/dl). Creation of blood –intensive specialty centers for Cancer Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Renal Dialysis, Renal Transplantation, Cardiovascular by-pass Surgery, Thalassaemia, Leukemia, Hemophilia etc., have all led to an even greater need for blood and blood products.
It is estimated that, on an average, Pakistan requires around 3000-4000 units of blood every day. However, while the transfusion needs outstrip the currant availability of blood, Hepatitis virus prevalence rates in the potential Blood donors population is fairly high. Although systematic surveys have not been carried out in all areas of the country, between 10 –12 % of blood donors are estimated to carry hepatitis. While one cannot be complacent about the dangers of spreading HIV infections even in a low incidence country like Pakistan, its important to recognize the that hepatitis related diseases kills more people in two weeks than AIDS does in one year.
