Hematologists and pathologists have recommended need to announce scheduled hours for load shedding being carried out in different parts of the country. Talking to APP here Wednesday the medical personnel said that many of the laboratories and blood banks with no backup support system are feared to be exposed to serious deficiencies in case of power breakdowns, an extremely hazardous situation for public health.

One senior hematologist, Dr Syed Ahsan Ali expressed his concern about transfusion of stale blood as whole blood orits are stored in refrigerator, which run risk of being infected if power supply breaks down.

He strongly recommended that authorities must immediately ensure that all institutions with their respective blood banks being managed as independent entity to fulfill the criterion required for such essential facilities.

There must not only be mandatory provision for uninterrupted power supply to these facilities but schedule should also be announced so that management gets fully prepared in switching over to alternative arrangement without any delay, he elaborated.