Harare - In a move that will preserve many lives, government has slashed the price of blood in Government health institutions to $50 a pint...
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Harare - In a move that will preserve many lives, government has slashed the price of blood in Government health institutions to $50 a pint with immediate effect following the injection of a $4,2 million subsidy from the Health Levy.
Exactly two months ago, Government reduced the price from $100 to $80 a pint in all Government institutions. Before dropping to $100 in October 2016, a pint of blood was pegged at $135 — with the intention of reducing it further to $10.
He said since the Health Levy was collected each month, Government was looking forward to continuing to support the NBSZ to ensure sustainability of the reduced price. Government is collecting at least $4 million every month from the cellphone levy, the majority of which is used to procure medicines.
According to health minister Dr David Parirenyatwa, the latest development was part of his 100-day plan to make health services, blood included, not only available, but also accessible to all.
“We want to make sure that all health services are not only available, but also accessible to everyone and with effect from tomorrow (today) the cost of a pint of blood will be $50. We have availed a subsidy of $4,2 million to the NBSZ (National Blood Services Zimbabwe) for them to meet some of the costs associated with blood collection and processing,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
He said his ministry was looking forward to reducing the cost to $10 a pint. “This is an important landmark for us in the health sector as we aim to hit our 100-day target,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
He said his ministry was looking forward to reducing the cost to $10 a pint. “This is an important landmark for us in the health sector as we aim to hit our 100-day target,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
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| Blood Prices Reduced |
He said since the Health Levy was collected each month, Government was looking forward to continuing to support the NBSZ to ensure sustainability of the reduced price. Government is collecting at least $4 million every month from the cellphone levy, the majority of which is used to procure medicines.
A five percent allowance is deducted from every $1 worth of airtime and is then channelled towards the health levy.
Commenting on other issues of governance within the NBSZ that were contributing to blood donor apathy that resulted in the dwindling of the blood bank towards the end of 2017, Dr Parirenyatwa said Government has ordered the institution to hold its Extraordinary General Meeting before the end of this month (January).
“We have asked them to make sure that they hold an EGM before the end of January and that is where we are going to resolve all issues of governance, including the leadership squabbles,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
NBSZ public affairs manager Ms Esther Massundah affirmed that blood would be sold for $50 to all public health institutions starting from today. She, however, could not confirm if the reductions have also been effected in the private sector, which is currently buying blood at $120 from NBSZ.
“The position with regards to the private sector would be clearer soon after the holidays, but special focus was on Government institutions which consume 80 percent of our products,” said Ms Massundah.
She said internally, NBSZ implemented cost-cutting measures, which also saw its annual budget dropping from $9 million to $7,8 million. Commenting on the latest reduction, renowned Harare lawyer who is also a blood donor, Mr Rodgers Matsikidze welcomed the development as a step in the right direction.
“That is very positive news as we begin the year and this is evidence that it is possible for the price of blood to go to even zero,” said Mr Matsikidze.
He said the next step for Government should be to ensure that patients with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, children under the age of five years and the elderly should get blood for free.
He said Government should also make provisions for those who cannot afford to pay for blood completely to get it for free. Specialist surgeon Dr Junica Dari, who is also a blood donor, applauded Government for the price reductions saying many lives would be saved. Dr Dari said on many occasions patients would die as they failed to pay for blood.
“All general surgeries, ophthalmology, neuro, orthopaedic, gynaecology and all other major surgeries require at least four units of blood. The majority of maternal patients also require additional blood and blood cancer patients require at least three units of blood every month.
Commenting on other issues of governance within the NBSZ that were contributing to blood donor apathy that resulted in the dwindling of the blood bank towards the end of 2017, Dr Parirenyatwa said Government has ordered the institution to hold its Extraordinary General Meeting before the end of this month (January).
“We have asked them to make sure that they hold an EGM before the end of January and that is where we are going to resolve all issues of governance, including the leadership squabbles,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
NBSZ public affairs manager Ms Esther Massundah affirmed that blood would be sold for $50 to all public health institutions starting from today. She, however, could not confirm if the reductions have also been effected in the private sector, which is currently buying blood at $120 from NBSZ.
“The position with regards to the private sector would be clearer soon after the holidays, but special focus was on Government institutions which consume 80 percent of our products,” said Ms Massundah.
She said internally, NBSZ implemented cost-cutting measures, which also saw its annual budget dropping from $9 million to $7,8 million. Commenting on the latest reduction, renowned Harare lawyer who is also a blood donor, Mr Rodgers Matsikidze welcomed the development as a step in the right direction.
“That is very positive news as we begin the year and this is evidence that it is possible for the price of blood to go to even zero,” said Mr Matsikidze.
He said the next step for Government should be to ensure that patients with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, children under the age of five years and the elderly should get blood for free.
He said Government should also make provisions for those who cannot afford to pay for blood completely to get it for free. Specialist surgeon Dr Junica Dari, who is also a blood donor, applauded Government for the price reductions saying many lives would be saved. Dr Dari said on many occasions patients would die as they failed to pay for blood.
“All general surgeries, ophthalmology, neuro, orthopaedic, gynaecology and all other major surgeries require at least four units of blood. The majority of maternal patients also require additional blood and blood cancer patients require at least three units of blood every month.
“Some of these patients end up dying as they fail to raise the required money to get the blood, which is accessed on a cash up-front basis,” said Dr Dari. - The Herald
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