Cost of blood donor diet doubled in Moldova

Chisinau, 30 August /MOLDPRES/ – The cost of the blood donor food package will be doubled and will reach MDL 100, according to a Government decision approved at its meeting today. 

The author of the project, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, notes that the purpose of the Executive's initiative is to provide blood donors with healthy food containing the required amount of protein, carbohydrates and lipids. The authorities hope that the number of donors will increase in this way.

According to the ministry, the share of volunteer donors who provide blood or blood components without remuneration increased from 13.5 per cent in 2005 to 81 per cent of all donors in 2016. However, the rate of blood donation twice per year is 24.5 per cent, and those who donate every 2 – 3 months over 5 years is only 0.02 per cent. The international statistics show that unpaid donation is the safest.

The Government-endorsed project fits into the reforms proposed by the international community and development partners for the healthcare system.

It is needed to increase the cost of the blood donor food package, according to estimates, by additional financial allocations of MDL 2.5 million and in 2018 – 2020 over MDL 3.68 million, yearly.

There were made over 79,000 blood donations in Moldova in 2016.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)