FG plans overhaul to end commercialisation of blood services

The federal government has begun efforts to harmonise the cost of blood across hospitals in Nigeria to promote fairness, transparency, and easy access for patients.

This was disclosed by Saleh Yuguda, Director-General of the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), during a workshop held in Abuja on Wednesday for members of Hospital Transfusion Committees (HTCs). Yuguda said the initiative followed several public complaints about the high and inconsistent charges for blood transfusions in hospitals.

“Blood is a public good. What we are doing is to ensure that the system works in a fair and transparent manner, so that Nigerians can have access to safe blood when they need it, without being exploited,” he stated.

He noted that while many stakeholders have called for a complete government subsidy on blood, a partial subsidy is already in place. “The government currently bears the major cost involved in the collection, screening, and processing of blood,” Yuguda explained.

According to him, the agency will work closely with hospital administrators and state health authorities to align their pricing systems with national standards once the harmonisation framework is ready. He added that talks have already begun with manufacturers and suppliers of blood consumables, including producers of blood bags, to reduce operational costs.

“These talks are aimed at centralising and stabilising the prices of these essential items to reflect Nigeria’s economic realities,” Yuguda added.

Professor Philip Olatunji, a haematology and transfusion medicine expert, cautioned against the growing trend of commercialising blood services. “There must be a sense of good conscience in practice. You cannot claim to exist to save lives and then end up losing lives because of your revenue drive,” he said, stressing that blood services should be about saving lives, not profit-making.

Olatunji urged healthcare providers to strike a balance between financial sustainability and compassion, saying, “Moderation is a virtue the system must rediscover.”

Some health policy experts at the workshop acknowledged that implementing a uniform pricing system could be difficult due to Nigeria’s deregulated healthcare system but described NBSA’s harmonisation move as a commendable step towards building a more transparent and equitable national blood service.

The workshop, attended by transfusion officers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, also highlighted the importance of active hospital transfusion committees in enforcing policies, improving blood use, and ensuring patient safety.

In July, the federal government announced plans to reform the country’s blood service system to align with its broader national health priorities.

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