Govt Moves to Fix Blood Shortages and High Prices in Public Hospitals
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says it’s working on major changes to the country’s blood supply system to make blood more affordable and widely available, especially in public hospitals where the cost has remained a life-threatening barrier for many.
“No Patient Should Die Over the Cost of Blood”
Speaking to The Herald, Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said the Government is determined to make sure no patient dies because they couldn’t afford a unit of blood. He revealed that several reforms are already in motion to fix long-standing issues in how blood is collected, priced, and distributed across Zimbabwe.
“We are seized with the issue of blood availability in our hospitals. There are ongoing consultations to review the operating model of NBSZ, with a focus on transparency, affordability and broader stakeholder representation. The ministry is committed to ensuring that blood services operate in the public interest,” he said.
For now, the Government is ramping up mobile blood drives and public awareness campaigns to keep supplies steady, especially during difficult periods like school holidays, when donations typically drop due to the absence of student donors, who make up a large portion of the donor base.
Long-Term Reforms: Fixing Governance and Supply Chains
Looking at the bigger picture, the ministry is working on long-term structural reforms, including better governance and funding models. These are aimed at making blood services more affordable and reliable.
Shortages, he explained, often stem from both seasonal dips in donations and practical issues in transporting, processing, and storing blood products. On top of that, the system can grind to a halt if there’s a delay in funding, even when donors are available.
To reduce those risks, the Government is trying to make the entire process more efficient and to ensure there’s funding at every stage, from collecting to testing and delivering the blood to patients in need.
Govt Moves to Fix Blood Shortages and High Prices in Public Hospitals
Maunganidze also responded to ongoing concerns about the high cost of blood, especially for poor patients. A single pint of blood reportedly costs about US$250, but in public hospitals, that cost is fully covered through a Government-funded coupon system.
“No patient in public hospitals should pay for blood. This subsidy is part of our commitment to universal health access, particularly for patients in critical need. We are, however, working on reducing the cost of blood so as to ease the burden on the fiscus,” he said.
To protect the subsidy and reduce pressure on the national budget, the Government is looking into working with private partners and donors who could help cover the expensive testing and screening processes.
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The post Govt Moves to Fix Blood Shortages and High Prices in Public Hospitals appeared first on iHarare News.
