By Own Correspondent- The NBSZ is struggling and might just go under as the government of Zimbabwe struggles to pay the blood bank for its ancillary services to the Ministry of Health.

The Blood bank has been struggling financially since the government made blood free for all patients at government and mission hospitals. The government is now bearing the cost of collecting blood on behalf of the patients.

The NBSZ Spokesperson who spoke to a local publication said:

NBSZ is going through some serious financial challenges right now that include staff remuneration and meeting statutory obligations since we have not yet received any payment from government for the free-blood-initiative for 2019. If nothing is done by end of this month then, yes, our survival as an entity is threatened

She also said they were having problems because of the power cuts that are making them lose some of their stocks.

It is definitely unsustainable and is causing serious testing challenges, leading to significant losses. We are yet to meet the Zesa (Holdings) officials.

Last year the government decided to subsidise the cost of blood for all patients at government and mission hospitals. The NBSZ is supposed to get money fro its operations from the government.-Newsday