Mozambique: Hospital workers arrested for selling blood

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Mozambique: Hospital workers arrested for selling blood

7:18 CAT | 19 Jul 2021

Image: Ikweli

Three employees of the Central Hospital of Nampula (HCN) have been arrested by the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) for alleged involvement in selling blood in the largest hospital establishment in northern Mozambique.

The accused are two nurses, assigned to the emergency room and to a ward, and a final-year medical student at the Higher Institute of Health Sciences. They were allegedly involved in a ‘deal’ to facilitate the surgery of a patient with a tumour on the 7th of this month.

The spokeswoman for the provincial directorate of SERNIC in Nampula, Enina Tsinine, told journalists that her institution had been receiving complaints about the illegal sale of blood since January, which was when the police launched the investigation which culminated in the arrest of employees on Wednesday of last week.

“One HCN employee and student were arrested in possession of 1,500.00 meticais intended for the purchase of blood for a citizen who had a relative hospitalised and awaiting surgery,” she explained.

The blood sale scheme at the HCN blood bank involved a network of employees, including the three who ended up falling into the hands of the police.

A SERNIC spokesperson said criminal cases to hold the individuals accountable had been opened and were running their proper course.

A. Vigílio, a final-year medical student at the Higher Institute of Health Sciences, confessed to participating in the blood sale scheme, but says that his intention was to only acquire a unit of blood to help a patient whose case he was following in the practical module of his studies.

“I wrote the blood requisition and handed it to the family, to acquire the blood from the blood bank. The family members went to donate blood, but it was a different blood group to what was needed, and I ended up talking to a colleague to facilitate the matter. He said that he could only do it on payment of 1,500.00 meticais. I conveyed this to the family and, just at the time when I was to receive the money to give to the colleague, I was questioned, which is why I’m here,” he said.

The nurse named by Virgílio denied all accusations and said that at the time the deal was taking place, “he was off duty and at his house”. He was contacted by phone and taken to the cells of the Nampula SERNIC.

HCN Clinical Director Anselmo Vilanculos said that the hospital had been hearing rumours [of blood selling] for a long time, but there was insufficient evidence to hold anyone accountable.

“At the hospital level, we are waiting for more elements and as soon as we have the information, we will activate all the mechanisms provided for in the general statutes of state employees and agents, which will determine what will become of their professional future”, Vilanculos said.

He also took the opportunity to “exhort all professionals at the HCN not to get drawn into activities which may create problems for the future of their families”.

By Sitoi Lutsheque

Source: Jornal Ikweli