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The Ministry of Health is reviewing the National Blood Transfusion Policy of 2001 to address the acute shortage in the country's blood banks.
Officials are developing the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service Management Bill, as the number of patients dying due to lack of blood when needed, continues to rise.
Details also emerged that the country had a shortfall in the blood banks with donation standing at 160,000 units against a demand of 400,000 units.
According to Director of Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri, the ministry is committed to ensuring there is enough blood at the banks.
He admitted that shortage of blood in the banks is a major challenge hitting the health sector.
"I appeal to all clinicians working in transfusion facilities to use blood and blood products appropriately by prescribing specific blood components to patients as opposed to whole blood," said Dr Muraguri.
In a speech read on his behalf during the closure of a three-day conference on blood transfusion at a Naivasha hotel, Muragauri said Kenyans have not embraced the culture of donating blood voluntarily and regularly.
He said some hospitals are collecting their own blood leading to the shortfall, adding that the department had embarked on awareness campaigns to improve the donation.
He was, however, quick to note that the division was seeking to increase the annual donation to 300,000 units this year as part of meeting the high demand.
"We are making sure that blood collected is well screened against HIV and Aids and other diseases before transfusion," he said.
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