Patients and caregivers have accused health workers at Mayuge Health Center IV of selling blood.
The patients say that the health workers ask for facilitation fees to travel to other health facilities to collect blood, putting the lives of patients at risk.
Sarah Mirembe, said that her daughter suffered from postpartum defects with uncontrolled bleeding and was tasked to pay a fee of 60,000 Shillings for blood.
Maria Namugabwe says that she was told to purchase blood at the facility early this month, however, when she failed to raise the money, a nurse recommended for referral to Jinja Regional Hospital for blood transfusion services.
Steven Zinoga, a father of a three-year-old girl living with sickle cell says that he has to mobilize a blood facilitation fee of 150,000 Shillings to avoid delays in accessing medical care for her daughter.
Aseri Kagwa, a resident of the Magamaga trading center, says that his one-year-old daughter became anemic after suffering from severe malaria. According to Kagwa, when he was referred to Mayuge Health Center IV, he was asked to pay blood “facilitation” fees.
However, the Deputy in charge of Mayuge Health Centre IV Jamir Wangubo denied the allegations. Jamir says that he has never received complaints from patients.
He said that the blood is free of charge and in case it is unavailable, they refer those in need to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.
Jamir added that some patients with rare blood group types like O+ and O-, are asked to facilitate health workers to transport this blood from either northern or far Eastern Uganda.
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