Health Ministry to end alleged blood racketeering by certain private hospitals
A leading private hospital has asked a patient to bring three and a half pints of blood
At a time when the Health Ministry is in the process of drafting a ‘Blood Transfusion Act’ to regulate blood transfusion and put an end to illegal and unethical blood business by certain private hospitals, a leading private hospital has asked a patient to bring three and a half pints of blood privately, violating the existing regulations and putting the patient at risk of transfusing contaminated blood, the Daily Mirror learns. The latest victim of the blood transfusion scam, a media personnel at a well-known TV station, has been asked to bring three and half pint of blood by this famous private hospital in Colombo for his operation scheduled today. Director, National Blood Transfusion Unit (NBTU) Narahenpita, Dr. Anil Dissanayaka said the NBTU was the only authorised establishment to supply blood required by private as well as state hospitals.
“Only the NBTU has the legal authority and facilities to collect blood from donors, screen them and distribute among all hospitals. It is unethical and also puts the patient at risk if any other establishment collects blood for transfusion,” Dr. Dissanayaka said. He said the blood is supplied to private hospitals on request by the NBTU and it is free of charge. But a fee is levied between Rs, 750 and Rs. 1,500 per litre for a pint of blood for the sachet in which blood is contained and for screening the blood. Dr. Dissanayaka said he had received complaints from patients that some private hospitals charge around Rs. 50,000 for a pint of blood, despite obtaining blood free of charge.
He said the legal department of the Health Ministry is in the process of preparing a document for a Blood Transfusion Act. “Right now we do not have a Parliamentary Act to regulate blood transfusion in the country but the new Act will fulfil that need and introduce a legal framework to take punitive actions against violators ,” Dr. Disssanayaka stressed.