Level of support for voluntary blood donors

The Minister of Health has just issued Circular No. 15/2023/TT-BYT regulating the maximum price and costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and qualified blood products.

This Circular stipulates the maximum price of a number of units of whole blood and blood products that meet standards paid by the state budget and the Health Insurance Fund, and the cost of determining the price of a unit of whole blood and blood products that meet standards.

The Circular clearly states that a blood unit meets the standards when it is collected, preserved in a plastic bag containing anticoagulant and has undergone all required screening tests as prescribed.

According to the Circular, the maximum price for 30 ml of whole blood is 111,000 VND; the maximum price of 894,000 VND is applied to 450 ml of whole blood. Red blood cell preparations are regulated to have a maximum price of 116,000 VND for red blood cell concentrates from 30 ml of whole blood; 874,000 VND for red blood cell concentrates from 450 ml of whole blood. Fresh frozen plasma preparations of 30 ml have a maximum price of 66,000 VND; fresh frozen plasma of 250 ml has a maximum price of 363,000 VND. Frozen plasma preparations of 30 ml have a maximum price of 56,000 VND; frozen plasma of 250 ml has a maximum price of 283,000 VND. Platelet-rich plasma preparations of 100 ml from 250 ml of whole blood have a maximum price of 219,000 VND; 150 ml of platelet-rich plasma from 350 ml of whole blood costs a maximum of VND 243,000; 200 ml of platelet-rich plasma from 450 ml of whole blood costs a maximum of VND 268,000. 1 unit of platelet concentrate (from 250 ml of whole blood) costs a maximum of VND 145,000; 4 units of platelet concentrate (from 1,000 ml of whole blood) costs a maximum of VND 578,000...

In addition, the circular also stipulates the cost level for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and blood products that meet the standards. Specifically, the maximum average cost level to support units and facilities that promote, mobilize, and organize voluntary blood donation days is 50,000 VND/donor.

The content of support expenditure, specific support expenditure levels and use of this fund shall comply with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular No. 182/2009/TT-BTC dated September 14, 2009 of the Minister of Finance guiding the content and expenditure levels for propaganda and mobilization of voluntary blood donation.

Maximum average expenditure for on-site meals for blood donors (both voluntary and paid blood donors): VND 30,000/person/donation. Blood service providers are responsible for organizing carefully and publicly so that blood donors can eat and drink on-site before and after donating blood.

In addition, for blood donors who pay for blood, if donating whole blood, the direct payment is as follows: One unit of blood with a volume of 250 ml: 195,000 VND; one unit of blood with a volume of 350 ml: 320,000 VND; one unit of blood with a volume of 450 ml: 430,000 VND. If donating blood components by separating them, the direct payment is as follows: One unit of preparation with a volume of 250 to 400 ml: 400,000 VND; one unit of preparation with a volume of over 400 to 500 ml: 600,000 VND; one unit of preparation with a volume of over 500 to 650 ml: 700,000 VND.

For volunteers who do not take money, the specific expenses are as follows:

Voluntary whole blood donors can choose to receive gifts in kind or in medical examination and treatment services with the following minimum value: One unit of blood with a volume of 250 ml is equivalent to 100,000 VND; One unit of blood with a volume of 350 ml is equivalent to 150,000 VND; One unit of blood with a volume of 450 ml is equivalent to 180,000 VND.

Volunteer donors who separate blood components can choose to receive gifts in kind or in medical examination and treatment services with a minimum value as follows: One unit of preparation with a volume of 250 to 400 ml is equivalent to 150,000 VND; One unit of preparation with a volume of over 400 to 500 ml is equivalent to 200,000 VND; One unit of preparation with a volume of over 500 to 650 ml is equivalent to 250,000 VND.

Travel expenses support for voluntary blood donors with an average maximum expense of VND 50,000/person/blood donation.

Regarding gifts in the form of medical examination and treatment services, the head of the blood receiving unit is responsible for publicizing the list of services and the price of each service for blood donors to choose, ensuring the following principles:

The total price of the services must be equivalent to the gift level. In case the total price of the services chosen by the blood donor is lower than the gift level, the blood receiving unit is responsible for paying additional gifts in kind to ensure that the gift level is sufficient according to regulations.

In case the total price of the services chosen by the blood donor is higher than the gift level: The blood receiving unit is allowed to collect the difference between the total price of the services chosen by the blood donor and the gift level received and is responsible for publicly explaining so that the blood donor understands and implements; In case the excess cost of the services chosen by the blood donor does not exceed 10% of the gift level received, the head of the blood receiving unit can decide to use the revenue from the blood and blood product supply activities to pay and settle according to authority.

The prices of the services in the gift package are implemented according to the regulations applied by competent authorities to medical examination and treatment services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in State medical examination and treatment facilities.

This Circular takes effect from September 15, 2023.

Circular No. 17/2020/TT-BYT dated November 12, 2020 of the Minister of Health regulating the maximum price and costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and qualified blood products ceases to be effective from the effective date of this Circular.

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