Diario Libre features an extensive report on 31 May 2021 on the mafia that sells human blood to those who are desperate. The newspaper looks into the network of blood vendors that benefit from the deficiencies in hospitals and blood banks.
The Dominican Red Cross has traditionally sold blood at RD$2,500, with the purchaser having to bring a donor and the cash. Diario Libre reports, the mafia can get you the blood pack for RD$6,000. The blood sold has the tagging of the Red Cross Blood Bank. Diario Libre did a test of the blood and the test results showed it was the same kind of blood tagged but the blood was in bad condition and should not be used for a human person.
Dr. Pedro Sing, director of the National Blood Center (Hemocentro Nacional) says there is a deficit of 235,000 pints of blood a year.
The Ministry of Public Health says it will investigate the irregular operations.
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Diario Libre
31 May 2021