Relatives of patients requiring blood transfusion from Nakuru Blood Bank have raised alarm over alleged illegal sale of blood meant for transfusion at the Provincial General Hospital.
They claim that one has to part with between Sh2,500 and Sh3,000 for a pint of blood before it is transfused to a patient.
“We are often forced to give cash in exchange for the blood before it is given to our patients. Unfortunately my patient was an accident victim and was in dire need of the blood and hence it was a big challenge,” said Ms Susan Muthoni a relative to patient who needed urgent blood transfusion.
Muthoni claims that they were told the money is payment for the screening of the blood and for getting the platelets out.
“We were told cleaning of the blood and testing it for various diseases is costly and we have to pay before it is infused into our patient,” she added.
She was speaking at the Nakuru Blood Bank on Tuesday where she appealed to the county government to help in ensuring that blood is easily accessible during emergencies.
Another patient who sought anonymity, claimed they were told to look for relatives to donate blood before they could get a pint.
“We were told to look for six blood donors before they could agree to give us one pint,” said the source.
He said after they could not get the six donors, they were told there was no blood in the bank.
Nakuru County Health Executive Kabii Mungai said the cost of screening of the blood was what was paid for.
“It costs a lot of money to screen blood before giving it to patients. Each pint has to be screened for HIV, Malaria and Hepatitis. In private hospitals, the screening for Hepatitis is Sh600. We also have to do grouping and cross matching for the blood. However in case of emergency we save lives,” said Kabii.
Kabii pointed out that patients need to disclose this information so that they could punish the rogue worker who was behind the fleecing of patients.
He said that to the best of his knowledge, the blood cost Sh1,000 and it was only done in private hospitals.