Dhaka: Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim has ordered to close down all the substandard blood banks and those do not have any licenses, immediately.

He also urged the law-enforcement agencies to provide all the necessary help in this regard.

The minister came up with the order on Saturday while presiding over a meeting on safe blood Transfusion activities, at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

“Blood transfusion is necessary to save lives. But if the procedure is done without taking necessary permission and in substandard condition, it can put the lives of the concerned people in jeopardy. Some organizations are making quick bucks from the business and maintaining no standard whatsoever,” Nasim said.

Mentioning the fact that facility for blood transfusion is available in 219 government-run hospitals including 95 upazila health complexes, Nasim said, “Government has ensured safe blood transfusion till the upazila level. Awareness has to be increased among the people to go these centers and to take the necessary services.”

Health secretary Syed Manjurul Islam, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) secretary general Prof Dr Iqbal Arslan, Bangladesh Clinic and Diagnostic Center Owners Association president Prof Dr Moniruzzaman and its general secretary Dr ABM Harun, were present at the meeting, among others.