12MP review: Blood centre greatly needed in Sabah, says ex-Health chief

KOTA KINABALU: The regional blood centre which will be set up in Sabah under the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review is very much needed by the state.

"Blood products are needed not only for emergency and surgical procedures but also... for transfusions for thalassaemia patients," former state Health director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi said on Monday (Sept 11).

Commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement of the centre when tabling the review in Parliament, she said Sabah had the highest number of thalassaemia patients in the country.

Last year, according to state health officials, Sabah recorded 1,793 of the 8,000 new cases detected nationwide.

"This project (blood centre) was proposed many years ago and I really hope it will materialise soon," Dr Rundi added.