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HOSPITALS are putting a high mark up on blood that they purchase from the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ), putting it beyond the reach of the majority who want to procure supplies for sick relatives, an official said yesterday.The cost of blood, just like any other medical services, is met by the patient but the NBSZ used to provide it to hospitals on credit and they would pay after billing the patients.
Due to bad debts, the hospitals now ask patients to pay cash for blood.
NBSZ chief executive officer David Mvere told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care that a pint of blood costs $135, but hospitals were charging more.
He said: “Total package of blood that is safe is $135 per pint but hospitals put additional fees, making it expensive to the general public.
“Hospitals raise charges because they do compatibility checks to check if blood matches that of a patient so we end up with high charges.”
Harare hospital charges $189 for a blood pack while at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals it costs $200.
Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals charge closer to the $135 recommended by NBSZ.
As a result, people who need blood like pregnant women who are not on medical aid may die because their relatives fail to raise the money that hospitals charge.
Owing to huge debts accrued by the hospitals, a majority of which are public institutions, NBSZ now demands cash for blood.
“We were always invoicing hospitals and they will pay after receiving money from government and we never had to deal with patients directly at all,” said Mvere.
He however said since the NBSZ relied on blood donors, it was supposed to distribute it for free but it could not due to the costs incurred.
“Blood is charged because it has to be tested, processed and stored,” he said.
Mvere said the NBSZ was having challenges in luring adults to donate blood due to fear of knowing their HIV status, a situation that has compromised its collections. — New Ziana.
derick.khumalo