Blood Donation Patients Aid: Save Lives at JPMC Karachi

Blood is constantly in motion, flowing through a vast network of arteries and veins to keep the body alive. It delivers oxygen and nutrients, carries hormones, and defends against infection, quietly sustaining life without drawing attention to itself. Most of the time, its importance goes unnoticed.

That silence ends when a medical emergency occurs. Accidents, surgeries, childbirth complications, cancer, strokes, and blood disorders can suddenly turn blood into a matter of urgency. In such moments, the availability of safe and timely transfusions can mean the difference between survival and loss.

In Pakistan, however, access to blood is far from assured. The blood banking system is poorly coordinated and depends largely on replacement donations instead of a stable base of voluntary donors. As a result, hospitals often lack sufficient supplies of different blood types, placing patients of all ages at serious risk. The ongoing shortage of safe, readily available blood reflects a critical public health challenge with severe human consequences.

How Blood Disorders and Medical Conditions Affect Survival

Many serious health conditions either directly involve the blood or rely on blood products for effective treatment. For example, patients with thalassemia, a genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to produce healthy red blood cells, often need lifelong blood transfusions, and according to JPMA (March, 2017) Pakistan alone has around 100,000 individuals dependent on regular transfusions for survival. Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy frequently require platelets and plasma support due to treatment-induced low blood counts, and individuals with severe anemia, liver disease, major trauma, stroke, or complications during childbirth also depend on accessible blood supplies. Globally, nearly 118.5 million units of blood are donated each year, but demand still outpaces supply in many regions, especially in low- and middle-income countries where transfusions are critical for managing childhood anemia and obstetric emergencies (WHO). 

For the patients suffering from these medical conditions and more, blood is not optional. It is a medical necessity.

The Deadly Cost of Blood Delays

In Pakistan’s public hospitals, particularly those serving low-income communities, the struggle to secure blood often becomes a crisis of its own. Families are forced to run from one blood bank to another, pleading for donors while their loved ones wait in pain or critical condition. Private facilities may have better systems, but their costs place them out of reach for those who need them most.

Delays in accessing safe blood come at a devastating cost, surgeries are postponed, emergencies slowed, and treatable conditions worsen. In Pakistan, the greatest barrier isn’t a lack of doctors or hospitals, but the unavailability of safe blood when every minute counts. Hospital-based, ethical blood banks are essential to ensure timely, safe, and equitable access, because no life should be lost for want of blood.

Patients’ Aid Foundation and the Transformation of the JPMC Blood Bank

Since 1990, the Patients’ Aid Foundation has worked in close partnership with Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to support patients who are unable to afford medical care. Among its most enduring and life-saving contributions is its sustained involvement with the JPMC Blood Bank, Pakistan’s oldest and largest public-sector, hospital-based blood bank, established in 1949.

Over the decades, this collaboration has played a pivotal role in transforming the blood bank into a model of safety, quality, and ethical practice. In 1986, the JPMC Blood Bank made national history by establishing Pakistan’s first AIDS Screening Laboratory, setting a critical precedent for blood safety at a time when awareness and regulation were still limited.

Recognizing the grave risks associated with professional blood donors, the blood bank strongly supported by the Patients’ Aid Foundation took a landmark decision in 1992 to completely discontinue professional blood donations. This step significantly reduced the risk of transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS, and positioned JPMC as a pioneer in ethical blood banking practices well before such measures became standard nationwide.

Throughout the late 1990s, particularly during 1998–1999, further efforts were undertaken to strengthen blood availability and ensure uninterrupted support for JPMC patients. In 2004, the blood bank was officially registered with the Sindh Safe Blood Transfusion Authority, becoming one of the few fully registered blood banks in the province. That same year, the facility underwent complete renovation, fully funded and executed by the Patients’ Aid Foundation.

Leadership and professional excellence within the department have also been widely recognized. In 2007, the Head of the Department, Dr. Syed Abdul Mujeeb, was awarded the Pride of Performance in acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions to blood banking, HIV/AIDS research, and academic authorship.

Technological advancement has remained central to the blood bank’s evolution. Since 2014, screening for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) has been conducted using fully automated CMIA analyzers, ensuring higher accuracy and reliability. More recently, cross-matching procedures have also been upgraded to fully automated immunohematology analyzers, further strengthening patient safety. A major renovation completed in 2013 expanded capacity and significantly improved service delivery and patient facilities.

In 2019, the JPMC Blood Bank earned ISO 9001:2015 certification, reflecting its strong adherence to internationally recognized quality management standards, a distinction it has consistently upheld in subsequent years. Building on this achievement, the blood bank reached another significant milestone in 2021 when it was designated a Hospital-Based Blood Bank (HBB) under a German-funded (KfW) program led by the National Blood Transfusion Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of National Health Services. This initiative strengthened the facility through the provision of modern medical equipment, advanced IT systems, specialized software, and extensive staff training.

As JPMC continues to expand, with a new Surgical Complex completed, a Medical Complex under development, and a Trauma Centre in the pipeline, the demand for blood and blood components is expected to rise sharply. This growing need highlights the importance of further expansion and continued investment in the blood bank to ensure that lifesaving care keeps pace with the hospital’s evolving role as a national tertiary care center.

Blood Bank JPMC Growth Through Collaboration

The strength of the blood bank at JPMC truly lies in collaboration with generous donors and organisations. Patients’ Aid Foundation works closely with:

• National Blood Transfusion Programme, Islamabad
• Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority
• Sindh AIDS Control Programme
• International partners through KfW-supported initiatives

By supporting the Patients’ Aid Foundation, you can help ensure that safe blood is available when it is needed most, giving children, mothers, accident victims, and patients with chronic illnesses a fighting chance. Click here to donate now.

Blood Donation Profile and Transfusion Risks

Replacement donors account for the majority of blood donations in Pakistan, yet they have significantly higher rates of transfusion-transmitted infections than voluntary non-remunerated donors. This heavy reliance on replacement donations increases risks for patients and exposes a major weakness in the blood banking system. Expanding voluntary blood donation programs is essential to improve blood safety, ensure a more reliable supply, and protect the lives of patients who depend on transfusions.

Services and Capabilities of JPMC Blood Bank

The JPMC Blood Bank operates 24/7 year-round, ensuring patients have timely access to safe blood and components. Equipped with advanced technology, it supports both routine transfusions and specialized procedures, many offered free to patients.

The JPMC Blood Bank provides round-the-clock, free-of-cost blood services using advanced technology and high-capacity testing. With routine components, comprehensive TTI screening, and specialized procedures like platelet and plasma apheresis, it serves as a vital lifeline, especially for low-income patients from Interior Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and KPK who lack access to essential care.

Proposal for Establishing a Thalassemia Day Care Centre at JPMC

The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), in partnership with leading public and private organizations, plans to launch a Thalassemia Day Care Centre aimed at providing specialized, continuous care to patients living with thalassemia. This initiative will follow a public-private collaboration model, ensuring quality services while eliminating any financial burden on patients.

Project Partners

• Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC)
• Patients’ Aid Foundation 
• AJM Pharma
• Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA)
• Bait-ul-Mal

Estimated Costs and Support

Infrastructure and Technology Enhancements

The project will also benefit from technical support through KfW, coordinated with SBTA, to improve blood management and service delivery:

• BBMIS (PANACEA) ZAAVIA System with full IT setup and training: Already implemented successfully, this system streamlines data management, reduces human error, and enhances record-keeping efficiency.
• Blood Storage Facilities: High-capacity blood bank refrigerators, capable of storing 2,000–2,500 units of blood, ensuring consistent availability.
• Component Preparation Equipment: Cryofuge, cell washers, blood bag sealers, and blood mixers to improve efficiency and quality of blood components.
• Waste Management Systems: Modern equipment for safe and hygienic disposal of medical waste.

Expected Outcomes

The proposed Day Care Centre will significantly enhance the quality of care for thalassemia patients, ensuring safe transfusions, uninterrupted access to blood products, and comprehensive support without cost. Key benefits include:

• Increased blood storage and component preparation capacity
• Reduced risk of errors through automated IT-based record management
• Expanded access for underprivileged patients, improving health outcomes and quality of life

By combining advanced technology, trained personnel, and coordinated partner support, this centre aims to set a benchmark for collaborative, patient-centered care, providing reliable and dignified services to those living with chronic blood disorders.

The Blood Bank at JPMC is now recognized as one of the best blood banks in Karachi because it combines hospital-based care, strict screening protocols, ethical donation practices, and strong NGO support. For thousands of patients each year, it is not just a service, it is continuity of care.

How You Can Be Part of This Effort

Every day, countless lives hang in the balance, waiting for one simple act, a safe blood donation. You can be that reason someone smiles again. It doesn’t take much, but it can mean everything.

If you wish to donate blood please call us on 0301-8278222. Join Patients’ Aid’s ‘Roz Ka Sadqa’ initiative and support patients every single day. Visit JPMC blood bank, become a voluntary donor, and be part of a community that gives hope when it matters the most. Sharing is caring too, share this blog with your family and friends. One share, one visit, or one donation could be the reason someone gets a second chance at life.

Remember, safe blood saves lives every single day. Take action now, because a single donation or drop from you can change someone’s entire story.