Reiterating an existing guideline, the State Blood Transfusion Council has issued a circular to all licensed blood banks to ensure that processing charges for blood and blood components are not levied on patients suffering from thalassaemia, haemophilia, sickle cell anaemia and other blood disorders needing transfusion.
The governing body of the National Blood Transfusion Council has been discussing the issue of processing charges for several months due to a long-pending demand from private blood banks to increase the costs. At present, a blood unit is priced at ₹850 in the government sector and ₹1,450 in the private sector. This is not the cost of the blood, but the charge for processing the blood, which involves testing it for diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, malaria and syphilis infection, and cross-matching, storage and blood bag.
The recent circular says the existing guidelines dated February 12, 2014 would continue till May 31, 2018, or issue of new guidelines. “It is reiterated that these guidelines apply to all licensed blood banks and it is mandatory to ensure provision of blood and blood components to following patients who require repeated transfusions as life saving measures: thalassaemia patients, haemophilia patients, sickle cell anaemia, any other blood dyscrasia requiring repeated blood transfusions.”
Arun Thorat, head of the SBTC, said patients with blood disorders will continue to get blood units for free till May 2018. “We have forwarded the circular to all licensed blood banks so that they are updated and there is no confusion or refusal in any case,” Dr. Thorat said.
The NBTC meeting was held in June, but the SBTC sent out the circular last week. The circular also encourages blood banks to adopt digital payment systems for public convenience.
