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{
    "id": 188167,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/188167/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 99,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Medical Services",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 193,
        "legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
        "slug": "peter-nyongo"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I 2010 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 23, 2008 beg to reply. (a) I am aware that there are occasional shortages of blood at Kisumu Blood Transfusion Centre. However, patients are not exposed to undue risk as blood is airlifted to the facility to meet shortages whenever necessary. The centre is also receiving the necessary support in terms of fuel and refreshments for blood donors. Whenever blood donors give blood, they are given refreshments to energise them. I remember that while I was in High School, whenever I gave blood, I was always given a bottle of Fanta and biscuits. (b) The estimated annual country blood requirement is 200,000 units. Last year, the National Blood Transfusion Service collected 267,000 units. This is a significant rise from the 40,000 units that were collected before the establishment of the National Blood Transfusion Service in 2004, which has streamlined blood collection in the country. (c) No cost can be assigned to a unit of blood. However, there is a cost involved in its collection and processing. To deliver a safe unit of blood to a patient, it costs approximately Kshs3,000. The National Blood Transfusion Service supplies blood to private hospitals at a highly subsidised fee of Kshs300 as opposed to Kshs3,000 in the hope that the private hospitals will pass the benefit to the patients. Unfortunately, some of the private hospitals are charging patients more than what is reasonable. (d) In order to remedy the above situation, the Ministry is taking the following actions:- (1) Review of blood charges to private hospitals from Kshs300 to Kshs1,000 per unit, up from the current Kshs300. The extra revenue will then be used to improve collection of blood. (2) Promotion of a culture of blood donation in our population. I have requested the Permanent Secretary to organise a blood donation day, where we shall lead by example. (3) Employment of professional blood donor recruiters. This cadre is already in place. (4) Strengthening the managerial capacity at Kisumu Blood Transfusion Centre, so that it can respond more rapidly whenever shortages are in the offing, so that at no time should the centre be without blood. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}