ISSUE DIRECTIVE TO ALL GOVT. HOSPITALS NOT TO CHARGE PROCESSING CHARGES FOR PROVIDING BLOOD TO EWS PATIENTS - MONITORING COMMITTEE MEMBER WRITES TO DELHI PS (HEALTH)

To

Shri S.C.L. Das

Principal Secretary (Health)

Government of NCT of Delhi

Secretariat, I.P. Estate,

New Delhi-110002

December 30, 2014

Subject: Request to issue directive to all Govt. Hospitals not to charge processing charges for providing blood to EWS patients

Dear Sir

A case has to come to my notice of Ms. Sonia, aged 28 years, an EWS patient suffering from Anemia admitted to one of the identified private hospitals, namely, Bhagwati Hospital, Sector 13, Rohini, Delhi-85 since 22.12.2014. The patient requires blood-transfusion of one unit and since there is no Blood-Bank at Bhagwati Hospital, a requisition dated 29.12.2014 was made to Delhi-government run Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital (DDU Hospital) for providing one unit of “B+” blood against blood-donation.

However, upon the donor approaching the DDU Hospital Blood-Bank on 29.12.2014, the latter demanded processing charges of Rs. 1,050 per unit and also made a noting on the requisition-form to that effect, stating, “The processing charges of 1 PCV is Rs.1050 & you will get receipt for that.” As the patient belongs to EWS category and is not in a position to pay the said charges, blood could not be arranged for the patient. (Copy of Blood-requisition Form attached).

I understand that this practice is being followed by all the government hospitals. In my considered opinion, this practice must be stopped forthwith. All such hospitals are required to be told that in case an EWS patient who is admitted to a private hospital requires blood and a requisition is received for the same by a government hospital, no processing fee should be charged from such a patient.

It is a paradoxical situation that an EWS patient who is being treated free of cost by a private hospital is being demanded money from a government hospital for blood, that too when the patient has also arranged a blood-donor. The government hospitals must shun this practice of charging money from EWS patients for providing blood. Moreover, even in an eventuality when an EWS patient is incapable of arranging a donor, the government hospital Blood-Banks should provide blood for such patient free of cost.

You are requested to forthwith issue a directive to all the government hospitals not to charge processing fee for providing blood to EWS patients and not to deny blood to an EWS patient even if he/she fails to arrange a donor.

With regards

Ashok Agarwal, Advocate

Member, EWS Monitoring Committee

M: 9811101923