Summary:
Now the National Health Mission (NHM) will bear the cost incurred after removal of the processing charge, allowing patients free of cost blood.Until now, free of cost blood was provided to patients suffering from thalassemia, haemophilia, sickle cell or in cases of critical blood transfusion.In charge of the blood bank at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Combined Hospital, VK Sharma, said, “As directed, we have initiated free processing of blood for patients admitted at government facilities.” LUCKNOW: Patients admitted to government run hospitals and medical centres in the state can now procure blood from government blood banks for free. The procedures are followed as per the norms of the National Blood Transfusion Council. The facility will also be available in government supported institutes like SGPGI and KGMU But it will not be available for patients undergoing treatment at private facilities and procuring blood from government hospital run blood banks.Until now, patients paid a processing charge of Rs 400 for a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBC), Rs 200 for a unit of blood plasma and Rs 200 for a unit of blood platelets.Though blood is collected through voluntary donations, certain procedures such as collection and testing, segregation of components, storage, awareness around donation and quality check methods add to its cost..