Blood pricing still an unregulated practice in Guj

However,the cost variation in blood banks is driven by overhead pricing in the absence of a price control policy.

One of the objectives of the National Blood Policy 2002 is to gradually phase out the practice of replacement donors in a time-bound programme to achieve 100 per cent voluntary non remunerated blood donation programme. The policy also talks about the National Blood Transfusion Council providing guidelines on non-profit cost recovery as well as a subsidised system.

Blood replacement involves engaging of professional donors,which aggravates chances of infection and contraction of blood-borne diseases.

It has been targeted to bring it down to zero. However,in the absence of any regulation that spells out an upper limit for pricing,blood prices in the state range between Rs 250 and Rs 750 per unit; testing of Thalassemia in private blood banks could be as high as Rs 900.

“The high charges levied on blood components are due to the chemicals used for testing,but Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) blood banks charge concessional rates due to government grants,” said a member of the Gujarat branch of the IRCS on condition of anonymity.

IRCS blood banks across Gujarat have already recorded a 70 per cent decrease in blood replacement in the last two years when rest of the blood banks encourage more and more voluntary donations to bring down replacement.

“At present,there is no regulation over blood pricing. The difference of pricing is probably because of economy of scale as testing; storage and maintenance costs decrease in larger blood banks as compared to smaller ones. That is why probably there is a certain amount of freedom of pricing in the absence of an upper limit,” said Air Marshal P K Desai,the managing trustee of Missameal Trust that works in coordination with the IRCS for its various programmes.

With the replacement being brought down,the chances of increase of professional donors may become real once again,given the simple economics behind it.

However,Joint Director of GSCBT,Dr Rajesh Gopal,said: “While the apprehensions may be partly justified,but it will put a check on professional blood donation,which is illegal. Moreover,blood banks encouraging such donations also become culprits in the eyes of law. While we have very strict regulations to monitor this,the parameters to set up a blood bank are so thorough that profiteering will be controlled.”

Moreover,with inspections from a national expert identified by the Union government and two teams from the GSCBT and the Food and Drugs Control Authority (FDCA) once a year,things will remain under control,he added.

Speaking about the price difference,Dr Gopal said: “While there is an upper limit per unit set as per national guidelines,most blood banks in the state have been charging within the upper limit. We do not have a process at present to control the variation,but we are expecting the National Blood Transfusion Bill,which is looking into this aspect,to come up by 2010 end.”