The National Blood Transfusion Council has fixed the rates of blood and its components available in blood banks. Blood banks are obliged to sell blood to patients and their relatives according to this rate. But in the six years from 2014 to 2019, the blood banks have looted more than INR 147 crore by charging more than the fixed rate for blood from patients.
Complaints were made to the State Blood Transfusion Council that blood banks were charging extra fees from patients and their relatives for providing blood and its components. Taking cognizance of these complaints, the State Blood Transfusion Council had decided in 2020 to levy a fine of five times more than the fee charged by the concerned blood banks. But earlier, the State Blood Transfusion Council and the Food and Drug Administration had tightened their belts to impose fines on looting by blood banks. Accordingly, only 20 percent of the additional fee was directed to be deposited with the council. Accordingly, when the council announced the penalty amount, the blood banks objected to it. Therefore, the council appointed an accounting firm to audit the accounts. According to the information provided by this company, it was revealed that 22 private blood banks in Mumbai collected INR 147 crore from additional charges. State Blood Transfusion Council provided this information to activist Chetan Kothari through Right to Information.
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri collected the highest additional charges of 3 crore 4 lakh 18 thousand 965 rupees. Under that, Hinduja Hospital in Mahim has collected 2 crore 32 lakh 45 thousand 640 rupees, Jaslok Hospital has collected 2 crore 26 lakh 75 thousand 850 rupees additional charges. The council has imposed a 20 percent penalty on 22 blood banks in Mumbai for charging extra. Accordingly, an amount of INR 27.63 crore has been levied as penalty. This fine amount has been recovered from these blood banks.
There is no mechanism for reimbursement of fees to patients through fines
According to the decision taken by the State Blood Transfusion Council in 2020, a fine of five times the additional fee charged by blood banks will be levied. From that, the amount will be returned to the patients and the remaining amount will be deposited with the Council. However, there is no provision to refund any amount to the patient from the penalty on additional charges during the period 2014 to 2019.
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