Materia Medica Malaysiana

Private Hospitals Say Their Blood Costly To Cover Test Expenses

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Private hospitals charge up to RM200 per bag for blood to cover the costs of testing the blood for diseases, the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia said.

"The RM100 to RM200 includes the costs of tests that need to be done to ensure that donated blood is safe from diseases such as HIV, venereal disease and Hepatitis A, B and C," it said in a statement faxed to Bernama Friday.

"The consequence of giving blood which may carry the diseases is obvious. Hence, for the protection of the public, it is necessary," the statement said.

The association was responding to newspaper reports quoting Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek as saying that some private hospitals charged between RM100 and RM200 for a bag of blood which they had bought for only RM20 from government hospitals.

The association also said that blood stocks purchased from public sector healthcare institutions other than the National Blood Bank were priced at RM80 per bag.

Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) president N. Marimuthu said it was unfair for private hospitals to charge such a high price.

"Most of blood (stocks) are donated by caring Malaysians and it is totally unacceptable if private hospitals are selling the blood to patients at an exorbitant price," he told Bernama.

"The public donated the blood free of charge and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and the ministry are helping to carry out blood donation campaigns. It is a shame if private hospitals are doing this," he added.

-- BERNAMA