ISLAMABAD: Volunteer blood donation ratio in the country is very low and the blood bank system is dependent on family donations. This is not enough to deal with diseases such as thalassemia, health experts said on Saturday. The Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) organised a seminar to mark the Bloood Donors’ Day, titled: Give blood, Give now, Give often. The health officials highlighted the significance of blood donation and its dire need in the country. Dr Hasan Abbas Zaheer, the National Program Manager of Safe Blood Transfusion Programme, said that regular blood donations ratio in the country was very low and 90 percent people had to rely on family donors. He said that the regulation system of private blood banks also needed improvement for safe transfusion. “Last year, 3.5 million blood donations were received in the country. The federal capital blood banks recorded 68000 donations. The number of volunteer donation is very low. There is a need to educate people for the donations,” he said. He said that Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) had initiated the Safe Blood Transfusion Programme (SBTP) in 2010. “Now regional blood centres are being established meeting the international standards. Ten regional blood centres, including one in the federal capital, will be established,” he said. He said regional blood centres in the federal capital would likely be operational next year. Talking to Daily Times, Blood Transfusion in charge at FGSH Dr Shareef Astori said that the hospital in last one year had conducted blood tests of 20,833 people. “Other than blood tests, 58,914 persons were tested for Hepatitis B and C, out of which 684 were diagnosed with Hepatitis B and 2,059 with Hepatitis-C,” he said. “During last year, 6,866 patients were provided blood free of cost. Meanwhile, the number of hepatitis patients is increasing with every passing day and emergency measures are required to meet this challenge,” he said.