Markets in Everything: Blood for Profit
FORBES -- "The supply chain for blood hasn't changed in seven decades—a system that Minneapolis-based General Blood is trying mightily to disrupt. Instead of relying on collection from local donors, then selling to hospitals within driving distance, why not buy cheaply from centers in America’s vast midsection and distribute overnight to hospitals on either coast, underpricing rivals like the Red Cross?
But it’s not so easy to disrupt a $4.5-billion-a-year business, even a
sclerotic one. For one thing, the tide of supply and demand changes as
dramatically as Old Muddy. For another, it’s tough to dislodge old ways
of doing things—especially in a market where the biggest player, the
American Red Cross, controls 44% of the blood supply and has the ability
to distribute nationally, depending on the needs of particular areas."
Updated with link to article and correction in first sentence.
Updated with link to article and correction in first sentence.
6 Comments:
Mr. Perry,
Maybe provide article link, and I think the opening sentence should read " ..that has not changed in seven decades..."
Regards,
Moe:
Here is the article
Yes I found it earlier - Mark usually provides it, I thought he might have overlooked it.
Thanks Jon
First thing that came to mind looking at the headline was all the silly movies and television programs (most involving teen aged angst) involving vampires and the like...
Talk about blood for profit...:-)
Sorry, I forgot to include the link and left out some words in the first sentence, it's corrected now. I was traveling all day or would have corrected it sooner.
Wait, the Red Cross charges hospitals for blood?! I'm naive, I assumed that after all the cajoling re: how important it was to donate that they did the same.
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