Blood centers will face stringent action if they engage in overcharging for blood and its components
Charges should be displayed prominent at all blood banks
HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 29, 2024: In the wake of instances of overcharging by blood banks and its components, the Telangana Drugs Control Administration has instructed all the Blood banks to mandatorily adhere to the charges fixed by the Government of India for blood and blood components, such as plasma, platelets, etc.
DCA Director-General VB Kamalasan Reddy stated in a press note here on Thursday that during the surprise raids conducted by the DCA officials at various blood banks in Hyderabad it was found that they were charging exorbitantly and cheating the people for blood and its components, including Fresh Frozen Plasma, Platelet Concentrate, Single Donor Platelets, Packed Red Cells etc..
As per the “Guidelines for Recovery of Processing Charges for Blood and Blood components” issued by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC), the processing charges are as follows:
PROCESSING CHARGES FOR GOVERNMENT BLOOD CENTRES
| Sl. No. | Blood/Components | Processing Charges
(in Rupees) |
| 1. | Whole Blood | 1100 |
| 2. | Packed Red Cells | 1100 |
| 3. | Fresh Frozen Plasma | 300 |
| 4. | Platelet Concentrate | 300 |
| 5. | Cryoprecipitate | 200 |
PROCESSING CHARGES FOR NON-GOVERNMENT BLOOD CENTRES
| Sl. No. | Blood/Components | Processing Charges
(in Rupees) |
| 1. | Whole Blood | 1550 |
| 2. | Packed Red Cells | 1550 |
| 3. | Fresh Frozen Plasma | 400 |
| 4. | Platelet Concentrate | 400 |
| 5. | Cryoprecipitate | 250 |
PROCESSING CHARGES OF OTHER TESTS, COMPONENTS & PROCESSES (GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT)
Following charges are for individual tests, components and various processes which are specialized in nature but not part of routine blood processing. The charges of specialized tests, processes and components per unit of blood can be divided amongst other components for same unit.
| Sl. No. | Other blood tests, components & processes | Processing Charges
(in Rupees) |
| 1. | NAT | 1200 |
| 2. | Chemiluminescence | 500 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges) |
| 3. | ELISA Anti HIV 1/2 (4th Gen) | 50 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges) |
| 4. | ELISA HBsAg (4th Gen) | 50 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges) |
| 5. | ELISA Anti HCV (4th Gen) | 150 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges) |
| 6. | Anti HBc | 250 |
| 7. | Antibody Screening (Donor) | 300 |
| 8. | Leukofiltration-RBC | 1000 |
| 9. | Leukofiltration Platelet | 1500 |
| 10. | Grouping Cross-matching /Automation | 280 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges) |
| 11. | Grouping Cross-matching /
Semi-Automation |
120 (Not to be added as additional, as already factored in processing charges) |
| 12. | Phenotyping for Extended Serology | 500 |
| 13. | Irradiation | 1000 |
| 14. | Bacterial Detection | 400 |
| 15. | Platelets (apheresis) | 11000 |
SURPLUS PLASMA EXCHANGE VALUE IN GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT BLOOD CENTRES
| Sl. No. | Component | Exchange value for Surplus (excess) plasma |
| Surplus Plasma (exchange value) | 1600/Litre |
THE ADDITIONAL PROCESSING CHARGES FOR BLOOD COMPONENTS USING QUADRUPLE BAGS BY BUFFY COAT METHOD ARE AS UNDER
| Sl. No. | Component | Additional Processing Charge for Blood components using Quadruple bags by buffy coat method (in Rupees) |
| 1. | Red Cell | 150 |
| 2. | Platelet | 150 |
| 3. | Plasma | 100 |
It is mandatory for all blood centres (Government supported and non-Government supported) to provide blood/blood component free of cost to the following patients, who require repeated blood transfusion as a life saving measure:-
- Thalassemia
- Haemophilia
- Sickle Cell Anaemia
- Any other blood dyscrasia requiring repeated blood transfusion
The public may report any complaints regarding overcharging by blood banks (blood centres) through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana Toll-Free Number 1800-599-6969, which is operational from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on all working days.
