PARAMARIBO – The Surinamese Red Cross (SRK) and De Stichting Nationale Bloedbank recently sounded the alarm because blood will run out of stock in a week. The Blood Bank can no longer guarantee new blood supplies because it no longer receives new supplies of reagents which means that it will no longer be able to analyze blood and blood products. Blood and blood products must be analyzed before they can be delivered to the local hospitals for blood transfusions.

Medistro NV recently announced that it has decided to temporarily freeze the delivery of reagents. De Stichting Nationale Bloedbank of the SRK has been a reliable supplier of lifesaving blood products for the past 84 years but currently finds itself in a tight corner because of the freeze on the delivery of reagents. The freeze is the result of unpaid bills and the government’s failure to keep its promise of pitching in financially. Since the beginning of 2024 the SRK has warned the government and the hospitals about the potential consequences of the delay in payments. In May 2024 an agreement was inked with the Ministry of Health. As part of the agreement the Ministry of Health has to pay off the debts of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) and to pay the Blood Bank. The AZP’s debts were reportedly SRD 3.3 million at the end of April 2024. Unfortunately the Ministry of Health failed to keep its promise which is why the supply of blood and blood products has hit a snag.

In August 2024 the SRK met with President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to bring the issue under his attention. “Despite repeated calls and warnings the government did not keep its promises which is why we are currently in this position.” The Blood Bank is the only organization in Suriname that is responsible for the delivery of safe blood to the nation’s hospitals and healthcare institutes. But nothing is free of charge which means that the Blood Bank also has to cover its expenses in American dollars. Despite repeated requests the government has not granted the Blood Bank’s requests to supply blood at the actual cost price. The Blood Bank explained that if it can deliver blood at the actual cost price, it will be able to operate independently. It made it clear that it needs about USD 300,000 each year to purchase reagents and blood bags. The Surinamese Red Cross urgently urges the administration of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to take action and to keep its promises so that the supply of blood and blood products is guaranteed in Suriname…[+]