The National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has reiterated that blood is free in all public health institutions and urged patients to report any staff demanding payment for the life-saving product.
This clarification comes against a background of public complaints regarding cash demands for blood.
Addressing journalists at the launch of this year's festive season blood campaign, NBSZ chief executive Lucy Marowa confirmed that blood should be provided at no cost in mission, municipal, and State-sponsored hospitals.
“When you go to a government hospital, to a mission hospital, to a State-sponsored hospital, to a municipality hospital, you should get blood for free,” she said. “We have been circulating messages to say blood is free; should you be made to pay for blood, please report on the available numbers.”
Marowa clarified the pricing structure, explaining that while patients receive blood for free in public facilities, the government absorbs the cost.
“While you are getting it for free in a public institution, it's because the government has absorbed that cost and is paying the National Blood Service directly,” Marowa said.
This payment, she noted, covers the "value chain" and allows the NBSZ to continue operating.
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In contrast, private health institutions charge a user fee of US$240 per unit, which is the same price the government pays to the NBSZ.
The NBSZ also launched its festive season campaign, running under the theme "Jingle all the way to the blood bank."
The campaign, which runs from December 1 to mid-January, is crucial as the festive season traditionally sees an increase in road traffic accidents.
The campaign aims to collect 7,800 units of blood.
This target will be achieved through community blood drives, 93 pledges, and 25 scattered blood collections.
Clinics in Bulawayo, Harare, Mutare, Masvingo, and Gweru will operate both static and mobile centres.
Holiday Closures: Static clinics will be open throughout the campaign except on December 25 and 26, and January 1, 2026.
Marowa said the blood bank is on course to meet its annual target of 97,500 units, adding that this year has been better than the last.
“In 2024, we achieved a total collection of 77,120... and already, for this particular year, we are at 73,000, meaning that we are going to surpass what we got from January to December 2024,” she said.
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