Mr. Gariba Marwan Abdul-Rauf, Principal Biomedical Scientist at Techiman Holy Family Hospital in the Bono East Region, has raised concerns about the commercialization of blood donations at the facility. He revealed that certain individuals, claiming to be intermediaries, have been frequenting the hospital to facilitate transactions between blood donors and patients or their families in need of blood transfusions. These intermediaries charge fees for their services without the hospital’s approval or involvement.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Techiman, Mr. Abdul-Rauf noted that this practice is undermining the spirit of voluntary blood donations to the hospital’s blood bank. He lamented that many potential donors are now more inclined to negotiate terms with patients, rather than donating blood freely as they once did.
The Principal Biomedical Scientist expressed particular concern about the ongoing interference by these intermediaries, which is disrupting the voluntary donation process and threatening the hospital’s ability to maintain an adequate blood supply. He called on relevant stakeholders to take immediate action to remove these individuals from the premises to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Mr. Abdul-Rauf also stressed the moral implications of the practice, pointing out that these intermediaries are charging exorbitant fees, ranging from GH¢300 to GH¢1,000, depending on the amount of blood donated. He expressed concern that these individuals are exploiting vulnerable patients, particularly those in urgent need of a blood transfusion.
Highlighting the critical role of the blood bank in handling emergency medical situations, Mr. Abdul-Rauf appealed to both individuals and organizations to contribute to the hospital’s blood donation efforts. He emphasized that without sufficient blood reserves, the hospital cannot effectively manage emergencies, and he urged the community to come together to support the hospital in maintaining a steady supply of blood for those in need.
