Health Minister Kwabena Mintah AkandohThe government is moving to eliminate the financial barrier of blood processing fees by introducing subsidies, aiming to make blood units free and accessible to all Ghanaians, especially the most vulnerable.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh made this known during the national commemoration of World Blood Donor Day in Accra. According to him, the policy—part of the broader “Mahama Cares” framework—is awaiting parliamentary approval.
“We have realised that the processing fee for blood donation has become a barrier, affecting the availability of blood in this country.
Under the Mahama Cares policy framework, we are actively exploring ways to ease the financial burden on patients. This includes subsidies and potentially abolishing blood processing fees, subject to parliamentary approval,” Mr. Akandoh stated.
The event, themed “Give blood, give hope: Together we save lives,” celebrated the selflessness of voluntary blood donors. It drew attendance from dignitaries including the Queenmother of Mankessim Traditional Area, Dr. Nana Ama Amissah III, and honoured religious bodies and institutions supporting blood drives.
Mr. Akandoh urged organisations and institutions to organise blood donation exercises at least twice annually to bolster the national blood reserve. He also encouraged youth participation and praised consistent donors for their critical role.
“We have itemised the Service on the National Health Insurance Formula. I encourage you to put in an application to assess your allocation with respect to the National Health Insurance Formula 2025,” he added.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service (NBS), Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, reported that 187,000 units of blood were collected last year, with over 45,000 processed into life-saving components. Despite these efforts, she highlighted logistics challenges, especially the lack of mobile blood vans, which are essential for reaching voluntary donors.
She disclosed plans to establish regional centres and redesignate zonal blood centres to improve nationwide access to blood services.
World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana Country Representative Dr. Fiona Braka, in a speech delivered on her behalf, commended Ghana’s progress but urged further improvements. The country currently records only 30 voluntary donations per 1,000 people, below the Africa region’s target of 80 per cent.
The proposal to scrap blood processing fees is being hailed as a potential game-changer for Ghana’s health system, promising to enhance equity in healthcare delivery while encouraging a culture of voluntary donation.
