As a result of an appeal for blood donations following a bombing at a police lines mosque, Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, received an outpouring of public support on Monday. It is reported that the hospital had adequate blood supplies for those who were critically injured despite the initial call for assistance.
Students from Edwardes College, including Adnan Khan, planned to donate blood. They were informed, however, that additional blood supplies were not required upon arrival at the hospital. Upon learning of the shortage, many flocked to the hospital’s blood bank only to be informed of the actual situation. Similarly, Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif took to social media to urge PML-N workers and students to donate blood.
The LRH representative, Mohammad Asim, praised the blood bank, stating that it has provided blood for over two decades to victims of bombings and suicide attacks. According to him, the hospital will make official requests in case of a shortage despite claims of scarcity made by private blood banks and welfare organizations.
Furthermore, Asim commended the local media for their professional reporting, which avoided disruptions to healthcare providers. In the past, journalists would rush to the hospitals, capturing footage of injured patients, but this time, they waited in designated areas of the hospital for updates.
Nevertheless, some doctors at the hospital reported that visits from VIPs, such as ministers and politicians, caused disruptions in patient care. It was pointed out by a senior surgeon that such visits take away from the responsibility of the administration to oversee staff and services and that it can create problems for the hospital staff, which is already overburdened with life-saving procedures. Furthermore, the surgeon emphasized the importance of following medical ethics and avoiding hospital visits in large numbers as they can be harmful to patients’ health.
