Dr Parirenyatwa Says, “Blood To Be Free At Public Hospitals Starting In July”

Minister of Health and Child Care David Parirenyatwa has said that the blood will now be available for free at all public hospitals from the 1st of July 2018. The government scrapped the fees after launching the Health Levy Fund. Speaking at Murehwa District Hospital on Wednesday, Parirenyatwa said,

We introduced the Health Levy Fund in which every 5 cents from a dollar worth of airtime is channelled towards that fund. We have raised about $20m and I urge people to make calls a lot. Because of this levy, as from July 1, blood will be for free, absolutely free. It is a relief to the pregnant women and those injured in road accidents who need blood the most.

A unit of blood used to go for $50 after it was reduced from $80. Before that, it used to go for $135.