Zimbabwe blood too costly

The government says it is taking steps to reduce the cost of blood transfusions and improve access to blood services across Zimbabwe, following growing concern that current prices are unaffordable for many patients.

The matter was raised in the Senate by Senator Prisca Mupfumira, who questioned why blood donated freely by citizens is being sold at more than US$200 per pint by the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS). She also pressed government on whether services could be decentralised to ensure easier access in provincial hospitals outside Harare, noting that the NBTS is not a state-owned entity.

Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini acknowledged that the current pricing structure was beyond the reach of many Zimbabweans.

He said the government had since constituted an audit team to review the cost framework used in pricing blood products. "The price marked by the National Blood Transfusion Service is very high," Kwidini said.

He added that the review had already resulted in a proposed reduction of the price to around US$80 per pint, significantly lower than the current charge.

Kwidini also told the Senate that pilot blood processing is underway at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where relatives of patients can donate blood that is processed on-site. However, he said the initiative remains limited in scope and capacity.

He further indicated that government intends to establish its own large-scale blood processing facilities to reduce dependence on the NBTS and improve affordability and access.

"What we are looking forward to as a ministry and government is to venture into what is being done by the National Blood Transfusion Service," he said, describing it as an NGO, while adding that state involvement would complement existing structures.

According to Kwidini, technical teams are currently assessing the infrastructure and resources needed to expand processing capacity and decentralise blood services to provincial hospitals.

At present, all blood collected nationwide by the NBTS is processed in Harare, a system critics say contributes to high costs and limited accessibility.

The government has not yet provided timelines for the proposed reforms or details on how the expanded system will be funded.