David McIntosh: Fundamental Flaws in National Blood Systems Are Root Causes of Failure

David McIntosh, Founder and Chair of United Plasma Action, shared Coalition of Blood for Africa – CoBA’s post on LinkedIn:

“This thought-provoking post from the Coalition of Blood for Africa is certainly worth studying. It is excellent work. It seems to me however that it’s interpretation will be best achieved with some footnotes added.

The authors note that failure of blood tech startups is rooted in the complex, underdeveloped systems within which they attempt to operate. They highlight the fact that Blood, as a public good, is regulated, politically sensitive, and deeply embedded in government-run infrastructure.

They emphasise, that Blood is not a fast-moving, consumer-driven tech ecosystem; and they highlight a frequent fundamental mismatch between how blood systems function and how tech solutions are often designed – a mismatch that ‘virtually guarantees failure’.

What I feel it would also be worth highlighting, is that this phenomenon is unlikely, usually, to signal any failure of the high-tech innovations or the companies that offer them.

I believe it would be more accurate and fair to suggest that the most common root causes of these, and other, failures in Blood globally, are fundamental flaws in the national Blood Systems themselves.

I believe that it is those flaws that all too often guarantee failure …. with or without digitisation ……

The mismatch that the CoBA authors so rightly highlight is surely due to the fact that Blood Systems should operate as fast-moving, consumer-driven tech ecosystems – rather than the hide-bound bureaucracies they so often are today.

They should surely operate, at all levels, with nothing on their minds so clearly and importantly as the best interests of patients, carers and clinicians – nimbly responsive to clinical needs.

As the authors so correctly point out, blood systems tend not to work like consumer markets. ‘They are usually publicly managed, slow to procure, and governed by complex rules.’

Yes indeed – and I would like to suggest that that is their problem.

I believe that fundamental changes are necessary, if we are ever to reduce the unnecessary suffering and premature mortality currently being caused by poor support, misplaced policies, inadequate funding and insufficient staffing of national Blood Systems.

The post’s closing headline is that:

‘It is Time to Build the System for Blood Tech to Thrive’

While this is surely true – and we must all wish CoBA every success with that important goal – I would suggest that the prime issue here is not a system where Blood Tech thrives, but a system in which patients thrive – a system where there is enough blood, everywhere, all the time – and no one dies from the lack of a timely Transfusion.

Yes…. ??”

Coalition of Blood for Africa – CoBA shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Blood tech innovations are emerging across Africa, but too many struggle to move beyond the pilot stage.

Why?

From donor apps to delivery drones and digital inventory platforms, the challenge often goes beyond the technology itself. Without integration into national health systems, clear regulatory frameworks and sustainable funding, even promising solutions can struggle to deliver lasting impact.

In this article, we explore why blood tech innovations struggle to scale and what governments, donors and innovators can do to help these solutions succeed across Africa.

Good technology alone is not enough. Without the right policies, partnerships and infrastructure, even the best ideas can remain stuck in the pilot phase.”

More posts featuring David McIntosh on Hemostasis Today.