RIYADH: There is no contamination or any other problem in any of the Ministry of Health's blood banks, said Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of the Blood Banks in the Kingdom. He emphasized that the blood is subject to thorough examination and very precise measures and is being stored according to international standards. He said there are 252 blood banks in the Kingdom and indicated that 415,000 bags of blood were collected last year, of which 40 percent was provided by blood donors. The ministry checks the fitness of Saudi donors through their ID numbers. He added that the ministry has allocated SR800 million to finance the construction of a factory which will produce plasma derivatives in the Kingdom. He said the project is meant to localize the manufacturing of blood in the Kingdom which will enable the authorities to produce 14 types of medicines before 2013 including drugs for the treatment of cancer, burns, hemorrhaging and thalassemia. This will enable the Kingdom to join other countries which have acquired this technology, he said.
