National Blood Service Zimbabwe in scandal, possible explanation for high cost of blood and blood products

The possible reason why blood and blood products are expensive is that the National Blood Service Zimbabwe (NBSZ) has changed its status from  a non-profit making organisation to a private limited organisation. NBSZ is now registered under the Companies Act Chapter 24:03 as National Blood Service Zimbabwe (Private) Limited with 17 directors listed on the CR14 form.

It is not clear when NBSZ changed its status but The Herald proposes that it did so after a 2012 Ernst and Young audit which exposed serious abuse of funds by executives, NBSZ has been receiving grants from Government through the National Aids Council and lack of policy concerning board sitting allowances among other issues.  Despite changing its status, NBSZ has continued receiving grants from Government through the National Aids Council which secretary for Health and Child Care Dr Gerald Gwinji said was not Government policy unless the organisation is playing a leading role in providing critical services to the nation and is registered as private voluntary organisations (PVOs). NBSZ’s 2016 annual report shows it received about half a million dollars from donations, $400 000 of it from NAC.

Efforts by The Herald to get a comment from NBSZ board chairman retired Leslie George Smith were fruitless as his mobile phone was unreachable. Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gwinji said Government was investigating the matter.