The federal government has committed to reopening the Regional Blood Center (RBC) in Islamabad by the end of December 2025. This restoration is planned under a new outsourcing model as part of broader efforts to revitalize the national Safe Blood Transfusion Programme.
The announcement was made during a National Assembly session by Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, who was responding to inquiries regarding the delayed reopening of critical blood centers and the impact on emergency services.
Outsourcing and Timeline
Minister Kamal informed lawmakers that the process of outsourcing non-functional health facilities in Islamabad, including the RBC, is actively underway. A consultancy firm has been engaged to perform technical and financial feasibility studies and propose a suitable model for private sector operation.
"The center, which has remained non-functional for months, is expected to become fully operational by December 2025 under a selected operator," Minister Kamal stated.
Addressing immediate concerns, the Minister assured the National Assembly that emergency and inpatient blood needs are currently being met by major federal hospitals, including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Polyclinic Hospital, and Federal General Hospital. He acknowledged, however, that the RBC's reopening will significantly boost the region’s overall capacity for patient care and efficient blood management.
Digital Future for Blood Management
Once the outsourced center is fully functional, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHSR&C) plans a major technological upgrade: establishing a centralized digital blood donor database at the federal level.
This digital transformation aims to improve:
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Record-keeping and data accuracy.
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Coordination across the national blood network.
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Traceability and transparency in donation and transfusion services across Pakistan.
Provincial Coordination
Minister Kamal clarified that while the federal government provides support and guidance, the reopening of non-operational centers in other regions falls under provincial responsibility due to the devolution of health under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
The announcement provides the first concrete timeline for restoring the critical Islamabad RBC. However, questions remain regarding the specific outsourcing model and whether similar strategies will be applied to revive closed blood transfusion infrastructure across the provinces.
