Safe blood comes at a price

Blood transfusion costs are associated with ensuring safety and availability, not the blood itself, explains Israel Chipare, CEO of the Namibian Blood Transfusion Service (NAMBTS).“People often ask why they have to pay for blood when it’s donated for free,” Chipare said. “The reality is that blood must go through rigorous testing, processing and storage before it is safe for transfusion. These activities require skilled personnel, specialised equipment and transportation, all of which come at a cost," he explained. The blood transfusion service operates with 150 permanent staff members and has a head office in Windhoek, along with six branches across the country. Testing, processing and distribution are centralised in Windhoek to ensure strict quality control.The organisation also manages five blood banks and six fixed donation centres, in addition to more than 300 mobile donation clinics. Blood donor recruitment efforts include SMS notifications on donation days, phone calls the day before, WhatsApp groups, emails, posters, print media, radio announcements, booking cards, social media campaigns and a dedicated website.“Recruiting donors is an essential but costly process,” Chipare explained. “Every new donor we bring in adds about N$82 to the cost of a unit of blood. Yet, without continuous recruitment, we wouldn’t have enough blood to meet the growing demand.”In 2024, NAMBTS collected 50 979 units of blood. Whole blood donations made up 89% of collections, while apheresis plasma, platelets and red cells accounted for the remaining 11%.High demand, steep costsDemand for blood has risen steadily, increasing by an average of 9% over the past three years. Blood bags and consumables used during phlebotomy cost approximately N$266 per unit. Processing whole blood into usable components such as red cells, plasma and platelets adds another N$173 per unit. Blood group serology testing, which determines blood type and screens for antibodies, adds N$275 per unit.“Testing for infectious diseases is the most expensive part of the process,” Chipare noted. “We conduct nucleic acid testing (NAT) and serology testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. Just this step alone adds N$692 to each unit of blood.”The cost of labour is another major factor, totalling N$602 per unit. Additional costs, including cold chain storage, equipment maintenance and utilities, add N$98. Altogether, the total cost of producing a single unit of red cell concentrate (RCC) is approximately N$2 188.According to Chipare, government covers the cost of blood transfusions for state patients, who consume 81% of the national blood supply.Private medical aid funds pay for 19% of the supply, while direct private payments, mainly from foreign patients, account for less than 1%.Reaching donors NAMBTS teams travel extensively to collect blood, often visiting remote areas multiple times a year.“Our teams go to great lengths to ensure that donors across the country have the opportunity to give blood,” Chipare said. “But travel is expensive, and the cost of transporting blood safely to hospitals is significant.”Despite these challenges, Namibia’s blood pricing remains competitive with neighbouring countries.In 2024, the cost of a unit of red cell concentrate in Namibia was N$2 292.69, compared to N$2 280 in Zimbabwe and N$2 188 in South Africa.With 40% of blood processing materials imported from countries such as Spain, the UK, Germany, the US and Japan, costs fluctuate based on global supply chain conditions.“While we do everything we can to keep costs manageable, the reality is that ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply requires investment,” Chipare said. “Blood donation remains a vital, life-saving act, and we encourage more people to come forward and donate.”

Safe blood comes at a price

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

Please login to leave a comment

Safe blood comes at a price

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

Please login to leave a comment

Login