Closure of Government Blood Bag Facility Fuels Private Sector Monopoly

The country’s sole government-operated blood bag production unit at the Institute of Public Health in Mohakhali has remained closed since 2020. Once a key supplier of international-standard blood collection bags to government hospitals across remote areas, the shutdown of this facility has created a void that private companies are exploiting through monopolistic practices.

Dr. Nuruzzaman, a microbiologist at the Institute of Public Health, explained that the government ceased operations of the blood bag production unit in 2020. Currently, blood bags are imported through the Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL), leading to increased costs that are passed on to consumers, who now face exorbitant prices. “If domestic production were active, particularly low-income and impoverished people could access these essential supplies at affordable rates, or even for free in some cases,” he said. He added that the closure has allowed private companies to dominate the market, setting prices at their discretion, which consumers are forced to accept. Meanwhile, the government’s reliance on costly imports further burdens the poor and low-income groups.

Sources from the institute revealed that the closure has triggered a crisis in the country’s blood collection and storage system. Private companies have seized the opportunity to establish a monopoly over blood bag supplies, selling them at inflated prices that the public must bear due to a lack of alternatives. The government’s dependence on expensive imported blood bags places additional financial strain on vulnerable populations, particularly those requiring urgent blood transfusions, such as critically ill patients, accident victims, or individuals with chronic conditions like thalassemia. These families often face severe economic hardship to afford these essential supplies.

The sources emphasized that restarting the blood bag production unit is critical to ensuring equity, affordability, and quality in the healthcare sector. In the past, the unit supplied blood bags to government hospitals at low costs, with free distribution for impoverished patients. Reviving such national-level production is essential to make healthcare more accessible and affordable.

Dr. Md. Mominur Rahman, Director of the Institute of Public Health, commented, “Several units here, including the blood bag production facility, were shut down by the government long ago. A shortage of manpower has disrupted many operations. However, discussions with the authorities to address this issue are ongoing.”