Government urged to include cost of processing blood into NHIS and pass the NBS Bill

Accra, June 12, GNA – Mr. Ken Ashigbey, a Member of the Ghana Blood Foundation has called on government to include the cost of processing blood into the National Health Insurance Scheme to enable patients to have access to blood without any hindrances.

He said blood was life and as such, it was imperative for donors to donate blood to help others in times of need, and save lives. Mr. Ashigbey made the call in Accra at a lecture to mark World Donor Day which falls on June 14.

The lecture is on the theme: “Blood Donation and Universal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion as a Component of Achieving Universal Health Coverage”.

Mr. Ashigbey appealed to the government to pass the National Blood Service Bill to streamline and promote efficiency in the collection of blood.

“I am told the bill is with the Minister of Health. We are appealing to the Minister to spearhead the process for Parliamentary approval and assent by the President to sanitize the system,” he added.

He called for an improvement in the regulation of blood to address some of the challenges faced in the system.

He suggested to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to include blood donation in the activities of festivals and other celebrations to create awareness on its importance.

Mr. Ashigbey encouraged corporate organisations and institutions to inculcate blood donation as part of their corporate social responsibility to whip up the enthusiasm for voluntary donation.

However, the National Blood Service as of 2018 witnessed 37 per cent of voluntary donation out of a target of 50 per cent.

Countries like the Cote d’Ivoire and Benin had 100 per cent and 90 per cent of voluntary donation respectively in 2013 when Ghana recorded 33 per cent.

He urged the management of the National Blood Service to commit to expanding its mobile blood services to other regions and not only concentrate in Accra.

He called on all to get involve and not only donate blood because of need, but make it voluntary, because emergency situation can happen to anyone.

Madam Sophia Lissah, the Chairperson for the lecture, called on civil societies to increase their advocacy drive to create the needed awareness and demystify any misconception regarding blood donation.

She appealed to all to make it a personal campaign to spread the information on the need for voluntary donation to reach the country’s target.

By Kodjo Adams/Priscilla Ofori, GNA

Source: GNA Story (http://www.ghananewsagency.org/health/government-urged-to-include-cost-of-processing-blood-into-nhis-151429) 
Published: 2019-06-12 16:41:58
© Ghana News Agency

This post has already been read 436 times!