Circular No. 17/2020/TT-BYT stipulates the maximum price and costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and blood products meeting standards.

CIRCULAR

PROVISIONS ON THE MAXIMUM PRICE AND COSTS FOR SERVICING THE DETERMINATION OF THE PRICE OF A UNIT OF WHOLE BLOOD AND QUALIFIED BLOOD PRODUCTS

Pursuant to the Medicine Law No. 105/2016/QH13 dated April 6, 2016;

Pursuant to the Price Law number 11/2012/QH13 dated June 20, 2012;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 75/2017/NĐ-CP dated June 20, 2017 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

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 price for certain units of whole blood and qualified blood products paid by the state budget and the Health Insurance Fund, and the costs for servicing the determination of the price of a unit of whole blood and qualified 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 the regulations of the Ministry of Health.

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

1. A unit of blood meets the standard when it is collected and 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, issued by the Minister of Health guiding blood transfusion activities (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT).

2. Blood products meet the standard when they are prepared according to the standards prescribed in Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT.

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 facilities providing blood to using units. In cases where blood supply facilities transport blood to using units, the price of each unit of blood and blood products will be increased by a maximum transportation cost of 17,000 VND/unit of blood (blood product).

b) Costs for abnormal antibody testing according to the schedule prescribed in point a, Clause 1 and point c, Clause 4, Article 14 of Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT. In cases where blood transfusion facilities conduct abnormal antibody testing, the price of each unit of whole blood and red cell concentrates with a volume of 250 ml or more, and blood products including platelet concentrates, leukocyte concentrates, and platelets will be increased by a maximum of 17,000 VND/unit.

c) Costs for NAT testing according to the schedule prescribed in point b, Clause 1 and point g, Clause 4, Article 14 of Circular No. 26/2013/TT-BYT. In cases where blood supply facilities conduct NAT testing, the price of each unit of whole blood and red cell concentrates with a volume of 250 ml or more, and blood products including platelet concentrates, leukocyte concentrates, and platelets will be increased by a maximum of 210,000 VND/unit.

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

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

11. Medical facilities may charge patients or settle accounts with the Health Insurance Fund according to the approved prices for the tests at points d, đ, Clause 10 of this Article, 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 unit of whole blood and qualified blood products is based on the costs for receiving, screening blood and blood components, and preparing blood products as follows:

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 content of support costs, specific levels of support costs, and the use of this fund shall be implemented in accordance with 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 costs for publicizing and mobilizing voluntary blood donation.

2. The maximum average expenditure for meals provided on-site for blood donors (including both voluntary unpaid donors and paid donors): 30,000 VND/donor/session. Blood supply facilities are responsible for organizing and publicly announcing the provision of meals before and after donation.

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 gifts are given in the form of medical services, the head of the facility receiving blood must publicly announce the list of services and their respective prices so that donors can choose in accordance with 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 selected services is lower than the gift allowance specified in point a and point b, Clause 4 of this Article, the blood-receiving facility is responsible for supplementing the gift with physical items to ensure the required gift allowance.

- If the total price of the selected services exceeds the gift allowance specified in point a and point b, Clause 4 of this Article: The blood-receiving facility may collect the difference between the total price of the selected services and the allowable gift amount, while being responsible for publicly explaining to the donor. If the excess cost of the selected services does not exceed 10% of the allowable gift amount, the head of the blood-receiving facility may decide to use income from blood and blood product operations to cover the costs and settle accounts within their authority.

- The prices of services included in the gift package shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 14/2019/TT-BYT dated July 5, 2019, issued by the Minister of Health amending and supplementing some articles of Circular No. 37/2018/TT-BYT dated November 30, 2018, regarding the maximum price range for non-insurance-covered medical services and guidance on applying prices and settling costs in certain situations.

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. Salary costs according to rank, position, allowances, and contributions as prescribed by the State; Special allowances as prescribed in Decision No. 73/2011/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2011, issued by the Prime Minister regarding special allowances for civil servants, employees, and workers in public health facilities and anti-epidemic allowances.

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

8. Clinical examination costs, purchase of materials, chemicals, and biological reagents for laboratory tests as required by Circular 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 establish specific prices for each whole blood unit and standard blood products, as well as transportation costs from the blood supply unit to the using unit and the tests specified in points b and c of Clause 10, Article 3 of this Circular based on the provisions of this Circular and the actual situation of the unit, following the principle:

a) Not exceeding the maximum price stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular for cases paid from the state budget, income from medical services according to 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 the blood supply facility performs the transportation of blood to the using unit and the tests specified in points b and c of Clause 10, Article 3 of this Circular, the transportation cost and test cost may be added to the price of each blood unit and blood product for payment to the Health Insurance Authority or collected from patients according to regulations, but must still comply with the principles set forth in Clause 1 of this Article.

In special cases, units that collect blood and blood products themselves to promptly support blood transfusion work will be reimbursed by the Social Insurance Authority for blood and blood product transportation costs up to a maximum of VND 17,000 per blood unit or blood product. Any difference between the self-collection costs and the reimbursement amount by the Social Insurance Authority (if any) shall 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 screening, processing, storage, transportation, and use of blood and blood products, and implement price declaration and posting in accordance with 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.

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 January 1, 2021.

2. Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2017, issued by the Minister of Health, which sets the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of a whole blood unit and standard blood products; and Circular No. 20/2018/TT-BYT dated August 30, 2018, issued by the Minister of Health, amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2017, concerning the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of a whole blood unit and standard blood products, shall cease 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.