The Lagos State Government has signed a five-year concession agreement to standardise blood screening across public hospitals, aiming to improve transfusion safety and eliminate inconsistencies in testing.
According to Punch News, the initiative is expected to strengthen the detection of blood-borne infections while enhancing quality assurance and accountability within the state’s healthcare system.
The agreement, signed between the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, and approved private concessionaires, will introduce a technology-driven framework for screening and certifying blood before transfusions. Under the arrangement, Roche Products Limited will provide fully automated blood screening systems through a reagent rental model, while the government retains full regulatory oversight.
The new programme is designed to improve the detection of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis, while ensuring better traceability, standardised procedures, and reliable testing across public health facilities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described blood as a “liquid organ” that requires the highest level of safety and regulation. He said the initiative would ensure every unit of blood used in the state’s health system meets internationally recognised screening standards.
Abayomi also encouraged healthy residents to become regular voluntary blood donors, stressing that a stable blood supply is vital for treating pregnant women, accident victims, newborns, and patients requiring emergency medical care.
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, explained that the new agreement was introduced to address shortcomings in the previous system, including uneven screening capacity, inconsistent test results, weak quality assurance, and poor traceability. She noted that the updated performance-based framework contains stronger legal, operational, and accountability measures.
Roche Products Limited pledged continuous technical support, equipment maintenance, and reagent supply throughout the five-year period to ensure uninterrupted blood screening services.
State officials expressed confidence that the partnership would modernise blood screening, improve patient safety, and position Lagos as a regional hub for safe and reliable blood transfusion services.
Source: Punch News
