An investigation by JoyNews and Corruption Watch exposed the illegal collection of blood supply fees by a gang working inside the National Blood Service at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the Greater Accra Regional Blood Bank.
A staff member at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital charged GH300 for a pint of blood, whilst the head of a syndicate working under the National Blood Service at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital wanted GH750 for a pint of blood.
Dr Justina Ansah, CEO of the National Blood Service, has said that no patient is anticipated to spend more than GH150 for blood.
JoyNews’ investigative team and Corruption Watch’s Francisca Enchill discovered the upsetting experience that many patients face as a result of this unlawful activity.
In Ghana, six out of every 1,000 population donate blood instead of a minimum of 10 people.
According to the National Blood Bank, the national voluntary blood donation rate has dropped dramatically, from 34% of total blood donation in 2019 to 17% in 2020.
During the same time period, the proportion of voluntary donations received by blood centers in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale dropped from 52% in 2019 to 24% in 2020.
Dr. Justina Ansah went on to say that there is a scarcity in the system.
Many families are distressed when there is a blood shortage, particularly when the blood required is rare.
When family are unable to replace donors, obtaining blood becomes increasingly difficult.
That is the suffering of some patients’ relatives who need blood for their family upon admission to the hospital.
Unfortunately, the costs demanded for the blood have put them in a state of distress.
The investigating team was led by a middle-aged lady who said that the blood bank operators she contacted requested GH400 for a pint of blood.
This woman, who requested anonymity, said that she was made to pay GH250 for a pint of blood.
As a result, the cost of blood is a barrier for people who need it to live.
Blood is not intended to be sold, according to the National Blood Service.
However, a processing charge is needed to undertake laboratory testing on blood requested for transfusion.
According to the National Blood Service, the cost of processing this blood should not be more than GH150.
The Service’s CEO said that the decline in voluntary blood donations is the reason why unscrupulous persons take advantage of the system.
However, the investigation team discovered that what appears on paper does not correspond to reality.
The investigation team contacted one Eric Mensah, also known as Akwasi among his peers.
Further research revealed that this individual in his early thirties is the ‘head’ of a gang that enables the illegal purchase of blood at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, as well as a blood bank worker.
The investigation team informed him that they required blood for an ovarian cancer patient.
He requested GH750 for a pint of blood, but after much arguing, he lowered the price by 50 cedis. Finally, the team reached an agreement to pay GH700.
“We did not have the required blood sample and requisition form from an accredited hospital, but Akwasi took a down payment of GH¢100, promising to give us the blood once we pay in full,” one of the investigators revealed.
He gave the investigating team a pint of blood after giving a blood sample and a requisition form.
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SOURCE: myjoyonline
