Blood Supply– The Ministry of Health and Child Care is embarking on sweeping reforms to the national blood supply system, aimed at enhancing both access and affordability of blood, particularly within public healthcare institutions. This comes as part of the Government’s broader efforts to ensure that no Zimbabwean loses their life due to the inability to secure a unit of blood.
Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, in an interview with The Herald, emphasized that the Government is fully committed to addressing the critical issues surrounding blood availability and accessibility across the country. He stated that the Ministry is actively engaging in consultations to overhaul the operational model of the National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ), the country’s primary provider of blood services.
“We are seized with the issue of blood availability in our hospitals,” Maunganidze said. “There are ongoing consultations to review the operating model of the NBSZ, with a focus on transparency, affordability, and broader stakeholder representation. The Ministry is committed to ensuring that blood services operate in the public interest.”
He further explained that seasonal fluctuations in blood donations, particularly during school holidays when student donors—who contribute the majority of blood units—are unavailable, are a major contributor to recurring shortages. These periods of low supply are compounded by logistical hurdles in the collection, storage, processing, and distribution of blood.
To address these challenges, the Government is scaling up nationwide blood donation campaigns and public awareness initiatives. More mobile blood donation drives are being deployed, especially in remote and underserved areas, to ensure a consistent blood supply throughout the year.
In addition to addressing availability, Maunganidze clarified the Government’s position on the affordability of blood in public hospitals. Despite the high cost of a unit of blood—currently pegged at around US$250—patients in public health facilities are not required to pay. This is due to a Government-funded subsidy system that fully covers the cost through a coupon arrangement.
Govt Vows To Overhaul Blood Supply System To End Shortages And Reduce Cost
“No patient in public hospitals should pay for blood,” he emphasized. “This subsidy is part of our commitment to universal health access, particularly for patients in critical need. We are, however, working on reducing the cost of blood so as to ease the burden on the fiscus.”
However, he noted that patients receiving care in private hospitals must cover the cost of blood unless they have adequate medical insurance coverage. The Government is looking at ways to mitigate this cost through increased support and partnerships.
To strengthen the sustainability of this subsidy programme, the Ministry is actively exploring partnerships with the private sector and donor agencies. These collaborations aim to support the high costs associated with screening, testing, and processing blood while ensuring that no Zimbabwean is denied life-saving blood due to financial constraints.
Maunganidze revealed that long-term structural reforms are being pursued to improve governance and oversight within Zimbabwe’s blood services sector. A central aspect of these reforms involves reassessing the governance structure and pricing mechanisms of the National Blood Service Zimbabwe.
While NBSZ is an independent, privately run institution, it is the main body responsible for blood collection and distribution throughout Zimbabwe. The Government, through the Ministry, retains policy oversight over the NBSZ to ensure that services remain ethical, transparent, and accessible.
Government Vows Comprehensive Overhaul of Blood Supply System to Curb Shortages and Lower Costs
“Consultations are underway to broaden stakeholder representation within the NBSZ and to realign its operations with national health priorities,” said Maunganidze. “Our aim is to ensure that the institution’s pricing, services, and governance structures are more inclusive and reflective of public health needs.”
By bringing more stakeholders—such as healthcare professionals, civil society, and consumer representatives—into the governance framework of NBSZ, the Ministry hopes to create a more accountable and efficient blood supply system. The goal is to remove barriers to access while improving responsiveness to patient needs across both rural and urban areas.
In conclusion, the Ministry’s reform agenda is anchored in the principles of equity, affordability, and sustainability. Through policy reform, strategic partnerships, public education, and a reimagined operational model for the NBSZ, Zimbabwe is working toward a future where safe, reliable blood is available to all who need it—regardless of their financial status or geographic location.
Source- Pindula
