Address issue of blood shortage

In the recent past, there have been reports of blood shortage and patients being charged for blood, especially in privately run hospitals.

The most recent complaint was made by legislators who said in Parliament that their constituents are facing challenges travelling long distances to access blood, which in most cases, is in short supply (see “MPs complain of constant blood shortage” in the New Vision of September 6.

In particular, Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto, said private facilities are selling blood to patients and this could partly explain why there is blood shortage across the country.

“In some hospitals in Kampala, you pay Shs3m to get blood; it is sad that people are giving blood freely, but hospitals attach a cost to it,” MP Otto said.
However, it is the details revealed in Mr Otto’s statement about the high-dollar market for human blood and blood products that may come as a shock to givers who donate their valuable product for free.

Although the State Minister for Primary Health, Ms Sarah Opendi, promised that government will investigate and update the country on the matter, still her warning to health facilities involved in selling the blood, speaks volumes.

However, this is not the first time government has committed itself to investigate and punish errant hospitals that trade in blood. Excuses for selling blood have often been that blood collection, personnel, testing and storage is a very expensive affair.
The blood is a complicated issues considering that is largely dependent on willing donors, who are neither paid nor expect any reward from giving their precious blood.

Therefore, it is not only unfair but also absurd for health facilities to continue profiteering from the goodwill of donors even after the government has outlawed sale of blood.
The practice of selling blood can only scare away potential blood donors. The result of this will not only be constant shortage of blood, but worse still, it will condemn patients who can’t afford to buy it to death.

It is not good for one to donate blood for free, yet when their time of need comes, hospitals ask them to pay for it. Government should therefore investigate as it promised and bring errant hospitals to book before it is too late.

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