Government has dismissed reports that there is shortage of blood at the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) and at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.

Acting Minister of Health Cornelius Mweetwa has assured that blood collections by the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Service (ZNBTS) will increase to 205,000 units in 2025 from 104,000 units in 2021, representing a 100 percent.

Mr Mweetwa says the service that is responsible for collection, storage, and distribution of blood in Zambia has been building up its collection effort to ensure adequate stock is available to patients requiring transfusion across the country.

Mr Mweetwa was responding to a question raised by Patriotic Front Kamfinsa Member of Parliament Christopher Kang’ombe who wanted to know if government is aware of the shortage of blood supply at the Cancer Diseases Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka and what urgent measures are being taken to ensure the availability of blood supply to avert loss of lives.

“There is no shortage of blood at UTH and CDH. The service has sufficient stock of blood,” he assured.

He further noted that from January 1 and February 18 this year, the Lusaka Blood Transfusion Centre collected 4,872 units of blood which was distributed to six hospitals.

Mr Mweetwa stated that CDH received 221 units; UTH Adults, 442 units; UTH Children’s wing, 110 units; UTH Women and Newborn, 193 units, bringing the total to 966 units supplied between January 1s and February 18, 2026.