The National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) said that while blood from donors is for free, there is a value chain between its donation and transfusion to a patient.
NBSZ said the cost is US$120 and they recover if from the user in order for them to continue operating as an ongoing concern.
In a statement issued this Thursday, NBSZ reiterated its position that as an institution, it does not make a profit from the donated blood. The statement read:
While blood is donated for free there is a value chain between its donation and transfusion to a patient and this value chain costs $120, an amount that the NBSZ is recovering from the user in order to continue operating as a going concern.
There is no profit that is made from blood and the financial statements of NBSZ are publicly available for scrutiny as a testament to this.
The government of Zimbabwe decided to introduce the free Blood initiative in 2018 and thus the government pays NBSZ the full amount for every unit utilized in public health institutions.
Thus patients accessing treatment from non-private wards of public health institutions can get blood and products free of charge.
Blood and blood products are also accessible free of charge at Council hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo. Hospitals are allowed to charge a 5% administration fee on Blood and blood products
Blood is needed even during a pandemic. We remain grateful to the blood donors who even during this pandemic remain committed to donating blood and saving lives.
National Blood Service Zimbabwe