In Zimbabwe, relatives could now be called to donate blood for patients

The Zimbabwe Government says it is working on reforms that would allow relatives and family members to donate blood directly for their loved ones in hospitals as part of efforts to reduce the high cost of blood transfusion services and improve access across the country.

The proposed changes were revealed in the National Assembly during a question-and-answer session after Monica Mupfumira raised concerns over the soaring cost of blood, which she said now exceeds US$200 per pint despite blood donation itself being free.

Mupfumira questioned why patients were still paying high prices when blood donations are voluntary and called for greater decentralisation of blood services to ensure access in all provinces.

Responding on behalf of Government, Deputy Health Minister Sleiman Kwidini said authorities had already reviewed the pricing structure through an internal audit process, reducing the estimated cost of a pint of blood to around US$80.

Kwidini said Government is also moving towards a more localised system of blood collection and processing, including hospital-based processing and direct family donations.

"At Parirenyatwa Hospital, we have started processing blood. When a relative is sick, another relative can donate blood and it can be processed at the hospital," he said.

The pilot programme is currently operating at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, but Government says plans are underway to expand the system to provincial hospitals nationwide.

Authorities say the initiative is intended to complement the work of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), which currently manages much of the country's blood collection and processing operations through a centralised system.

Government officials believe decentralisation could reduce delays in emergency situations, particularly in rural areas where access to blood products is often limited.

However, health experts have cautioned that while family-based donations may help ease shortages in emergencies, the system carries risks if not properly regulated.

A laboratory expert quoted in discussions around the reforms warned that family-donor systems require strict screening, blood matching, infection testing, trained personnel and strong quality assurance mechanisms to avoid transfusion-related complications and infections.

Experts also noted concerns that pressure could be placed on relatives during emergencies and that overreliance on family donations could weaken voluntary national blood donation systems, which are generally regarded as safer and more sustainable.

The proposed reforms form part of broader debates over the affordability of blood products and the role of public health institutions in managing critical life-saving supplies.

If implemented fully, the policy could significantly reshape Zimbabwe's blood transfusion system by shifting from a largely centralised NGO-supported model toward a decentralised government-backed network with greater community and family participation.