No justification for hidden charges at blood banks/hospitals

No justification for hidden charges at blood banks/hospitals

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 29, 2014: A meeting was held following complaints that a few blood banks were collecting excess fee than that prescribed   for blood. Assistant Drug Controller (Mangalore circle) Nagaraja K V has called upon all the blood banks in the district to collect only the prescribed price fixed by the Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council (KSBTC), that is, "Rs 700 per unit of blood (350 ml) only".

All the blood banks are directed to display the available stock of blood units in the blood banks and the rates applicable. Stating that only Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) Blood Bank and Government Wenlock Hospital are authorised to organise any blood donation camps. Any organisation, association or medical establishment may hold blood donation camps only in association with either IRCS Blood Bank or Government Wenlock Hospital blood bank.

Chairing a meeting of the officers / representatives of the blood banks in the district, as per the direction of the Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, all the officials concerned were called upon not to demand or force the kin of the patients or visitors to the blood banks, or others to donate blood. “The blood donation must be purely voluntary”. Drugs Inspector B V Ashalatha and officers / doctors representing all the 13 blood banks in the district were present.

Yenepoya Blood Bank Officer Dr Sharief suggested a common blood donor card, all the representatives agreed for the same.  Speaking on the occasion, IRCS district unit Chairman Prabhakar Shriyan said that the IRCS would share the cost or resource if the camps are organised in association with the IRCS.  KMC Blood Bank Officer Dr Anand suggested the Drugs Control department to take steps to display blood unit stocks in all the blood banks in the State so that anybody can check the availability of blood online.

The meeting also decided to organise a Voluntary Blood Donation Week in the month of June 2014 and stressed the need to give wide publicity for the same.

NOTE : As per the circular issued by Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council, the service charges for blood and blood components is as follows.

1. For whole blood :  For low social economic group (BPL) at Government Hospitals - Free of cost For general patients at Government Hospitals - Rs 350, For patients at private hospitals - Rs 700

2. For blood components :  Packed Red Cells - Rs 600, Fresh frozen plasma - Rs 400, Platelet concentrate - Rs 400, Cryoprecipitate - Rs 200.

**3. All Thalassaemia, Hemophilia patients and HIV positive persons in both government as well as private hospitals will have to be given the blood free of cost.