adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Government has been hailed for scrapping fees on blood products at public and mission hospitals. President Mnangagwa gave a directive for the scrapping of fees on blood products and on July 1. The Ministry of Health and Child Care complied, throwing a lifeline to many hard-pressed patients countrywide.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe-Masvingo chapter provincial chair Mr Jowere Mukusha said the scrapping of charges on blood was a welcome move that demonstrated the new dispensation’s commitment to improving the health delivery system in the country.
“This overture by the new dispensation put paid to wild claims that Government does not care about people’s health,” said Mr Mukusha.
He said the scrapping of blood charges would go a long way in helping patients in need of blood transfusion in the wake of economic hardships.
Community Working Group on Health provincial chair Mrs Entrance Takaidza said many patients were foregoing some essential medical procedures as they could not afford to pay for blood transfusion upon recommendation by doctors.
“As CWGH, we are happy that Government has spared a thought for its patients, most of whom are low income earners or unemployed,” she said.
Masvingo provincial medical director Dr Amadeus Shamu said Masvingo General Hospital had started giving free blood to patients but advised health workers to ensure that only those in critical need benefited.
“This is a welcome development, our provincial referral hospital, Masvingo General, has started giving blood for free,” he said.
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