The costs contributing to prices of qualified whole blood units and blood products in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 4 of Circular 17/2020/TT-BYT (Effective from 01/01/2021) which stipulates the costs contributing to prices of qualified whole blood units and blood products as follows:

Prices of one qualified whole blood unit and qualified blood products shall be determined based on the costs of receipt and screening of blood and blood components and preparation of blood products. To be specific:

1. Reimbursement for units and facilities involved in blood donation promotion and encouragement and organization of voluntary blood donation days: maximum average of VND 50.000 per blood donor.

Reimbursement items, specific reimbursement rates and use of this reimbursement amount are provided for in Clause 2 Article 3 of Circular No. 182/2009/TT-BTC dated September  14, 2009 by the Minister of Finance on guidelines for reimbursement items and rates for voluntary blood donation promotion and encouragement.

2. Maximum average cost of food and drinks provided for blood donors (including remunerated and non-remunerated donors) at the donation site: VND 30.000 per person per donation. The blood supplier shall provide food and drinks for blood donors before and after taking their blood in a considerate and transparent manner.

3. Payment for remunerated blood donors:

a) Direct payment for whole blood donors:

- One blood unit of 250 ml: VND 195.000;

- One blood unit of 350 ml: VND 320.000;

- One blood unit of 450 ml: VND 430.000.

b) Direct payment for apheresis donors:

- One product unit from 250 to 400 ml: VND 400.000;

- One product unit from more than 400 to 500 ml: VND 600.000;

- One product unit from more than 500 to 650 ml: VND 700.000.

4. Incentives for voluntary non-remunerated blood donors:

a) Voluntary whole blood donors are entitled to in-kind or medical services incentives with the following minimum value:

- One blood unit of 250 ml: VND 100.000;

- One blood unit of 350 ml: VND 150.000;

- One blood unit of 450 ml: VND 180.000.

b) Voluntary apheresis donors are entitled to in-kind or medical services incentives with the following minimum value:

- One product unit from 250 to 400 ml: VND 150.000;

- One product unit from more than 400 to 500 ml: VND 200.000;

- One product unit from more than 500 to 650 ml: VND 250.000.

c) Travel reimbursement for voluntary blood donors: maximum average of VND 50.000 per person per donation.

d) Guidelines on provision of medical services as incentives:

In case of provision of medical services as incentives, the head of the blood user shall publish list of available medical services and prices thereof for the blood donor to choose in accordance with the following rules:

- Total price of the services must be equivalent to the cost of the in-kind incentives mentioned in Points a and b Clause 4 herein;

- If total price of the services chosen by the blood donor is lower than the amount to which they are entitled stated in Point a or b Clause 4 herein, the blood user shall give additional in-kind incentive to the blood donor to ensure that the blood donor receives sufficient incentive according to regulations;

- If total price of the services chosen by the blood donor is higher than the amount to which they are entitled stated in Point a or b Clause 4 herein, the blood user shall charge the difference to the blood donor and give a public explanation to the donor. If such difference does not exceed 10% of the amount to which the blood donor is entitled, the head of the blood user may decide to cover such difference using revenues from blood and blood product provision within their competence.

- The prices of the medical services given as incentives are provided for in Circular No. 14/2019/TT-BYT dated July 05, 2019 by the Minister of Health amending some Articles of Circular No. 37/2018/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2018 by the Minister of Health on ceiling of price range of medical examination and treatment services outside of the scope of coverage by the health insurance fund at state-owned healthcare establishments and guidelines for applying prices and payment for medical services in certain cases.

5. Costs of blood collecting equipment, plastic blood bags, materials, stationery, power and water used for collection, testing and screening of blood and blood products.

6. Salary based upon salary scale and grade or job title, allowances and contributions according to state regulations; specific allowances according to regulations in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 73/2011/QD-TTg dated December 28, 2011 on some specific allowances for officials, public employees and workers of public healthcare establishments and allowances for epidemic control.

7. Costs of car rental, gasoline and oil of mobile blood collection according to bills and contracts.

8. Costs of clinical examination and testing biologicals, chemicals and materials for mandatory tests according to Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT.

9. Costs of regular maintenance of property and equipment used for receipt, screening and storage of blood and blood products.

10. Costs of disposal of unqualified blood units.

11. Remuneration for consultation for voluntary blood donors in public healthcare establishments assigned the tasks of blood receipt and screening.

12. Other reasonable and lawful spending on receipt, screening, production, storage and distribution of blood and blood products.

Best Regards!