The Drugs Consultative Committee made it clear that blood banks should only charge for processing costs because blood is not intended for sale but rather for supply.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a directive to hospitals and blood banks nationwide, directing them to restrict charges to processing costs exclusively, in a substantial effort to stop overcharging for blood units. The decision is a reaction to worries regarding the exploitation of patients requesting blood transfusions and has been shared with all states, Union Territory drug controllers and licensing bodies.
The DCGI, referencing the 62nd meeting of the Drugs Consultative Committee held on September 26, 2023, highlighted the unanimous recommendation to address the issue of overcharging for blood, news agency PTI reported. The committee emphatically asserted that blood is not meant for sale but for supply, and consequently, only processing costs should be levied by blood banks.
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Reports on blood banks
In an official communication on December 26, the DCGI stated, “It was recommended with respect to agenda No. 18 of ATR point 3, for overcharging of blood, it was opined that blood is not for sale; it is only for supply and only processing costs may be charged by the blood banks,” as reported by PTI in its report.
Under the revised guidelines, blood banks are now authorised to charge only processing fees for blood or blood components. These fees have been stipulated to range between Rs 250 and Rs 1,550 for blood or blood components. The DCGI has urged states and Union Territory drug controllers to ensure strict adherence to these guidelines by all blood banks within their jurisdiction, the report stated.
According to PTI on blood banks
According to official sources cited by PTI, in the absence of blood donations, private hospitals were charging exorbitant amounts ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 8,000 per unit of blood. Additionally, in cases of blood shortages or rare blood groups, the charges were reported to escalate even further. This move is expected to bring relief to patients facing high costs for essential blood transfusions.
Delhi LG suggests a new CBI investigation into “fake lab tests on ghost patients” at mohalla clinics
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has recommended a probe by the Central Investigation Bureau into the allegations of fake lab tests on ghost patients in mohalla clinics run by the Delhi government. An allegation has been made that lakhs of tests were done on ghost patients to help private labs as payments were made against those tests. As per ABP News sources, the scam is said to run in crores of rupees at the cost of poor people. Doctors at mohalla clinics marked attendance through pre-recorded videos and unauthorised or non-medical staff prescribed tests and medicines to patients, the sources added. The development comes days after a CBI probe was ordered by Saxena into the alleged supply of drugs to Delhi government hospitals that had failed “quality standard tests.”.
Last month, the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe into an alleged supply of drugs that failed quality standard tests in government hospitals. It was alleged that the drugs have the “potential to endanger lives.” “It is with a sense of deep concern that I have perused the file. I am, to say the least, anguished at the fact that lakhs of hapless people and patients are being supplied fake drugs that have failed quality standard tests,” Saxena wrote in a letter to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, flagging his concern.
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