health sector - Prices of blood hiked

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
22nd November 2008
The National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) has allowed blood banks of the state to sell whole blood at the rate of Rs 850 per unit and platelets for Rs 400.
Previously, the rate of whole blood was Rs 500 and that of platelets was Rs 200.
“Prices have gone up since rates of kits, electricity, manpower and other materials have gone up,” said the Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society (Blood Safety) joint director, Dr M.N. Kishore.
However, teh government blood banks are still giving blood in exchange for donated blood.
NGOs are providing blood for free to white card holders and at Rs 450 to Rs 500 to others.
There are around 206 blood banks in the State of which 88 have the support of Naco. Ten new blood banks have applied for permission.
Of the 64 standalone blood banks in the state, four were found to be of poor quality and many others average. “Around 15 of the standalone blood banks are doing a good job,” Mr Kishoresaid.
State needs around 8.5 lakh units of blood but the procurement is around 6.75 lakh.