The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is proud to announce the launch of its first podcast series, Blood Matters, a refreshing and thought-provoking space where conversations about ethics, community, transparency, and saving lives come alive – with a side of biscuits, of course.
Featuringvoices that live and breathe purpose, Blood Matters invites South Africans to pull up a chair and tune into real, unfiltered conversations about what truly matters. From unpacking everyday ethical dilemmas and the human stories behind blood donation, to exploring how trust and compassion flow through communities, the podcast goes deeper than blood.
In the first episode “Are we ethical?”, CEO Ravi Reddy, who is also the ‘Chief Ethics Officer’ of SANBS, outlines the ethics framework that guides every action of the entity and stands behind every unit of blood administered to patients.
Every meeting starts with an ethics moment,which ensures that ethics forms the foundation rather than an afterthought at SANBS. Described as a burning issue, the podcast tackles the perception that SANBS is a revenue-generating organisation but donors are not paid for their altruism.
“SANBS is a not-for-profit company. We are mandated by the Ministry of Health to supply blood products. But we don’t get any government subsidies, other grants or concessions to cover essential costs like employing professional staff, securing necessary testing, quality, safety and delivery equipment and rental of commercial properties. The costs associated with blood collection, processing, and delivery must be recovered to maintain efficiency and sustainability. This is achieved through our cost-recovery model.In reflecting how this is linked to strong ethics, Reddy explains that the World Health Organization (WHO) and national regulations do not allow for donor remuneration. “Even a symbolic or small payment can induce medically unsafe donor behaviour, such as donating too frequently at different donor centres in order to collect payment. This is not conducive to having a committed, sustainable donor community and for the health of donors, while also increasing risks of contaminating the blood supply. So SANBS prioritises integral, value-based donor education and building and cultivating relationships with willing donors.”
Each episode blends insight, humour, and humanity spotlighting the heartbeat of South Africa’s generosity while tackling themes that shape the SANBS journey: accountability, transparency, service, and social good.
“We wanted to create a platform that opens dialogue, builds understanding, and reminds people that behind every drop of blood is a beating heart and a story worth telling,” says Thandi Mosupye, Senior Manager: Marketing, Communication and Brand.
So, whether you’re here for inspiration, information, or simply the company (and the biscuits), Blood Matters is your invitation to connect, one conversation at a time.
Tune in to Episode 1: “Are We Ethical” now streaming on SANBS YouTube page.
Follow the conversation:
- X: @theSANBS
- Facebook: @SANBS
- Instagram: @thesanbs
- TikTok: @thesanbs
Listen now: Blood Matters Episode 1
