Circular No. 15/2023/TT-BYT stipulates the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of a whole blood unit and standard blood products.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and standard blood products

On the basis of The Drug Law No. 105/2016/QH13 dated April 6, 2016;

On the basis of Law on Prices No. 11/2012/QH13 dated June 20, 2012;

Pursuant to the Government Decree Government Decree No. 95/2022/NĐ-CP dated November 15, 2022 stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Decree No. Decree No. 177/2013/NĐ-CP dated November 14, 2013 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Prices; Decree number Decree No. 149/2016/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2016 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of Decree No. Decree No. 177/2013/NĐ-CP dated November 14, 2013 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Prices;

Decree No. Decree No. 60/2021/NĐ-CP dated June 21, 2021 of the Government stipulating the mechanism of self-management of public service units;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Planning and Finance;

The Minister of Health issues this Circular regulating the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and standard blood products.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

2. Applicability:

This Circular stipulates the maximum prices of certain units of whole blood and standard blood products funded by the state budget and health insurance fund, and the service costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and standard blood products.

第二条 组织和实施奖励工作的支出水平，如政府第152/2025/NĐ-CP号决定关于分级授权和奖励领域的分权规定

a) Blood donation volunteer steering committees at all levels; agencies, units, organizations participating in propaganda, mobilization, organization of voluntary blood donation, and blood donors;

b) Facilities with the function of selecting blood donors; receiving blood and blood components; screening blood tests; preparing blood products; storing, preserving, supplying, and using blood and blood products in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health.

Article 2. Provisions on units of whole blood and standard blood products

1. A unit of whole blood meets the standard when it is collected, stored in a plastic bag containing anticoagulant, and has undergone all mandatory screening tests as prescribed in Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT dated September 16, 2013 of the Minister of Health guiding blood transfusion activities (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT).

2. A standard blood product meets the standards set out in Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT when it is prepared according to the prescribed standards.

Article 3. Provisions on the maximum prices of certain units of whole blood and standard blood products

1. Units of whole blood:

2. Red blood cell products:

3. Fresh frozen plasma products:

4. Frozen plasma products:

5. Platelet-rich plasma products:

6. Platelet concentrate products:

7. Cryoprecipitate products:

8. Granulocyte products:

9. Products using additional equipment and materials:

10. The maximum prices stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of this Article do not include the following costs:

a) Transportation costs from the facility providing blood to the user units. In cases where blood supply facilities transport blood to user units, the price of each unit of blood and blood product will be increased by a maximum of VND 17,000 per unit of blood (blood product);

b) Costs for performing abnormal antibody testing. In cases where blood transfusion facilities perform abnormal antibody testing, the price of each unit of whole blood and red cell mass with a volume of 250 ml or more, and blood products including platelet concentrates, granulocyte concentrates, and platelets may be increased by a maximum of VND 17,000 per unit;

c) Costs for performing NAT testing. In cases where blood supply facilities perform NAT testing, the price of each unit of whole blood and red cell mass with a volume of 250 ml or more, and blood products including platelet concentrates, granulocyte concentrates, and platelets may be increased by a maximum of VND 210,000 per unit;

d) Costs for performing mandatory conditional tests as specified in Points a, b, and c of Clause 2 and Points c, g, i, and k of Clause 4 of Article 14 of Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT. Blood supply facilities only perform these tests if they comply with current regulations on blood transfusion activities and have a doctor's prescription.

d) Costs for performing mandatory conditional tests as specified in Points a, b, and c of Clause 2 and Points c, g, i, and k of Clause 4 of Article 14 of Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT. Blood supply facilities only perform these tests if they comply with current regulations on blood transfusion activities and have a doctor's prescription.

đ) Costs for blood group typing tests, immune compatibility tests, identification and determination of abnormal antibodies, bedside blood group typing, and equipment for administering blood and blood products to patients.

11. Medical facilities, when conducting tests as stipulated in points d and đ, Clause 10 of this Article, are permitted to collect from patients or settle with the Health Insurance Fund according to prices approved by competent authorities in accordance with current regulations.

Article 4. Costs for determining the price of a whole blood unit and standard blood products

The determination of the price of a whole blood unit and standard blood products is based on costs for receiving, screening, componenting, and processing blood products according to the following contents and levels of expenditure:

1. Support costs for units and facilities engaged in publicizing, mobilizing, and organizing voluntary blood donation days: The maximum average cost is VND 50,000 per blood donor.

The specific support expenditure items, support expenditure levels, and the use of this budget are implemented in accordance with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular No. 182/2009/TT-BTC dated September 14, 2009, issued by the Minister of Finance guiding the content and level of expenditure for publicity and mobilization activities for voluntary blood donation.

2. The maximum average cost for meals provided at the site for blood donors (including both voluntary blood donors without payment and paid blood donors): VND 30,000 per person per donation. Blood supply facilities have the responsibility to organize carefully and transparently so that blood donors can eat at the site before and after donating blood.

3. Expenditure for paid blood donors:

a) Direct payment to whole blood donors:

- One unit of blood with a volume of 250 ml: VND 195,000;

- One unit of blood with a volume of 350 ml: VND 320,000;

- One unit of blood with a volume of 450 ml: VND 430,000.

b) Direct payment to donors of separated blood components:

- One unit of product with a volume from 250 to 400 ml: VND 400,000;

- One unit of product with a volume from over 400 to 500 ml: VND 600,000;

- One unit of product with a volume from over 500 to 650 ml: VND 700,000.

4. Expenditure for voluntary blood donors without payment:

a) Voluntary whole blood donors may choose to receive gifts in kind or services of medical examination and treatment with a minimum value as follows:

- One unit of blood with a volume of 250 ml: VND 100,000;

- One unit of blood with a volume of 350 ml: VND 150,000;

- One unit of blood with a volume of 450 ml: VND 180,000.

b) Voluntary donors of separated blood components may choose to receive gifts in kind or services of medical examination and treatment with a minimum value as follows:

- One unit of product with a volume from 250 to 400 ml: VND 150,000;

- One unit of product with a volume from over 400 to 500 ml: VND 200,000;

- One unit of product with a volume from over 500 to 650 ml: VND 250,000.

c) Support costs for travel expenses for voluntary blood donors: The maximum average cost is VND 50,000 per person per donation.

d) Guidelines for gift expenditures in the form of medical examination and treatment services:

In cases where gift expenditures are made in the form of medical examination and treatment services, the head of the unit receiving blood has the responsibility to publicly disclose the list of services and the price of each service to ensure that the blood donor can select services ensuring the principle:

- The total price of the services must be equivalent to the gift expenditure level specified in points a and b, Clause 4 of this Article;

- If the total price of the services selected by the blood donor is lower than the gift expenditure level specified in points a and b, Clause 4 of this Article, the blood-receiving unit shall be responsible for supplementing the gift in kind to ensure the gift expenditure level as prescribed;

- If the total price of the services selected by the blood donor is higher than the gift expenditure level specified in points a and b, Clause 4 of this Article: The blood-receiving unit is allowed to collect the difference between the total price of the services selected by the blood donor and the gift expenditure received simultaneously while having the responsibility to explain transparently to the blood donor to understand and comply. In cases where the excess cost of the services selected does not exceed 10% of the gift expenditure received, the head of the blood-receiving unit may decide to use income from blood and blood product operations to cover and settle according to authority.

- The price of services within the gift package shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations applied by the competent authority to services of medical examination and treatment not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state medical facilities.

5. Costs for blood collection equipment, plastic blood bags, materials, office supplies, electricity, and water serving blood collection, testing, and screening, and blood product processing.

6. Wages according to salary grades, positions, allowances, and contributions as regulated by the State; Special allowances according to Decision No. 73/2011/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2011, of the Prime Minister regarding certain special allowances for civil servants, employees, and workers in public health facilities and anti-disease allowances.

7. Costs for renting vehicles, purchasing fuel when collecting blood at mobile blood collection points according to invoices and actual contracts.

8. Costs for clinical examinations, purchasing materials, chemicals, and biological reagents for mandatory tests as stipulated in Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT.

9. Costs for regular maintenance and repair of assets and equipment serving the reception, screening, and storage of blood and blood products.

10. Costs for discarding blood units that do not meet standards.

11. Support costs for organizing counseling for voluntary blood donors at public health facilities assigned the task of receiving and screening blood.

12. Other reasonable and lawful costs serving the reception, screening, production, storage, and distribution of blood and blood products.

State-owned enterprises that have been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to conduct offshore wind power project surveys before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to implement according to the assigned documents; any new matters arising after the effective date of this Circular shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

1. The head of the unit shall base on the provisions of this Circular, the actual situation of the unit, and the laws on pricing to establish and issue specific prices for each whole blood unit and standard blood products, transportation costs from the blood supply unit to the using unit, and the tests stipulated in points b and c, Clause 10, Article 3 of this Circular according to the following principles:

a) Not exceeding the maximum price specified in Article 3 of this Circular for cases of payment from state budget funds, revenue from medical services provided according to the regulations of public health facilities, and the Health Insurance Fund;

b) Ensuring compensation for actual reasonable costs, with accumulation, and being consistent with market conditions for cases of payment from sources not specified in point a of this clause.

2. In cases where blood supply units carry out blood transportation to using units and the tests prescribed in points b and c of Clause 10, Article 3 of this Circular, the cost of blood transportation and testing shall be added to the price of each unit of blood and blood products for settlement with the health insurance agency or collected from patients as stipulated, but must still comply with the principles set forth in Clause 1 of this Article.

In special cases, if using units go to collect blood and blood products themselves to promptly serve blood transfusion work, they will be reimbursed by the social insurance agency for blood and blood product transportation costs at a maximum rate of 17,000 VND per unit of blood or blood product. The difference between the self-collection costs and the reimbursement amount (if any) will be covered by the operating funds of the using unit and settled accordingly.

3. Medical facilities must maintain records of the receipt, use of funds for receiving, screening, processing, storing, transporting, and using blood and blood products, and implement price declaration and posting in accordance with the provisions of the law.

4. Budget preparation, execution, and settlement procedures shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of the State Budget Law, Accounting Law, and other guiding documents.

5. For excess plasma that is not used: medical facilities may transfer it to qualified business units as stipulated. The purchase price shall be determined by the medical facility based on a full calculation of costs, ensuring savings in storage and disposal costs if the plasma expires. The proceeds from transferring excess plasma must be fully tracked and accounted for in accordance with the regulations and can only be used to support blood transfusion activities.

Article 6. Reference Provisions

In cases where the referenced documents in this document are replaced or amended, implementation shall be in accordance with the replacement or amended document.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from September 15, 2023.

2. Circular No. 17/2020/TT-BYT dated November 12, 2020, issued by the Minister of Health, regarding the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of a whole blood unit and standard blood products, ceases to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

During implementation, any difficulties should be reported promptly to the Ministry of Health for appropriate amendments and supplements.