Blood is free in public hospitals, NBSZ says; report any demands for cash

NBSZ reiterates that blood is free in all public hospitals and urges the public to report any demands for payment as the festive-season blood drive launches (image source)

The National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has reiterated that blood is provided free of charge in all public health institutions and urged patients and relatives to report any instances where cash is demanded for blood release. NBSZ chief executive Lucy Marowa made the announcement at the launch of the organisation’s festive-season blood drive, stressing that mission, municipal and State-sponsored hospitals must not charge for lifesaving transfusions. Marowa told journalists that the government absorbs the cost of blood supplied to public hospitals by paying NBSZ directly. “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, adding that the service is part of the national health value chain. She warned that private health institutions apply a user fee of US$240 per unit, the same rate the government pays NBSZ for each unit supplied. “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 said, urging the public to use official reporting channels if they encounter demands for payment.

NBSZ launched its seasonal drive under the theme “Jingle all the way to the blood bank”, setting a target of 7,800 units between 1 December and mid-January. The campaign will combine community blood drives, donor pledges and mobile collections to reach donors across the country. Key campaign activities include: 93 donor pledges; 25 blood collection events spread nationwide; operations from static clinics in Bulawayo, Harare, Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru; and deployment of mobile clinics to reach outlying communities. Static clinics will remain open throughout the campaign except on 25–26 December and 1 January 2026.

Marowa said NBSZ is on course to surpass last year’s total collections. “In 2024, we achieved a total collection of 77,120. That was from January to December 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. The blood bank’s annual target is 97,500 units. NBSZ highlighted that the festive season typically sees a rise in road traffic accidents and emergency cases that increase demand for blood. The organisation appealed to healthy adults to donate, stressing that regular, voluntary donations are essential to maintain safe supplies for surgeries, trauma care and maternal health.

Marowa’s message combined reassurance and a call to action: public patients should not be charged for blood, and the public should support the drive by donating or reporting any illegal fees. NBSZ urged anyone who encounters demands for payment to report the incident through the service’s official reporting channels so that investigations can be pursued and patients protected.