Circular No. 20/2018/TT-BYT amends and supplements certain provisions of Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2017, issued by the Minister of Health, concerning the maximum price and service costs for determining the price of whole blood and blood products meeting standards.

CIRCULAR

AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO CERTAIN ARTICLES OF THE CIRCULAR NO. 05/2017/TT-BYT DATED APRIL 14, 2017 OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH ON MAXIMUM PRICES AND SERVICE COSTS FOR DETERMINING THE PRICE OF A UNIT OF WHOLE BLOOD AND QUALITY-CERTIFIED BLOOD PRODUCTS

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

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2017/NĐ-CP dated June 20, 2017 of the Government 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 to amend and supplement certain articles of Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2017 of the Minister of Health on maximum prices and service costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and quality-certified blood products.

Article 1. Amend and supplement Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2017 of the Minister of Health on maximum prices and service costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and quality-certified blood products.

1. Supplement Point 9 Clause 3 Article 3 as follows:

"9. Blood products using additional equipment and materials: 

2. Amending and supplementing Clause 4 as follows:

"2. The average maximum level of expenses for meals provided at the place where blood donors donate (including voluntary non-paid donors and paid donors): 30,000 VND/donor/session. Blood supply units shall be responsible for organizing meals thoroughly and publicly so that blood donors can eat 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: 195,000 VND; - One unit of blood with a volume of 350 ml: 320,000 VND; - One unit of blood with a volume of 450 ml: 430,000 VND.

b) Direct payment to donors of separated blood components: - One unit of product with a volume from 250 to 400 ml: 400,000 VND; - One unit of product with a volume from over 400 to 500 ml: 600,000 VND; - One unit of product with a volume from over 500 to 650 ml: 700,000 VND.

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 payments in the form of medical services:

In cases where gift payments are made in the form of medical services, the head of the unit receiving blood shall be responsible for publicly disclosing the list of services and their respective prices to ensure that blood donors can choose services that meet the following principles:

- 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 cost of the selected services is lower than the gift payment amount specified in Points a and b of Clause 4 of this Article, the blood-receiving unit shall be responsible for supplementing the gift payment with physical items to ensure the total gift payment meets the prescribed amount;

- If the total cost of the selected services exceeds the gift payment amount specified in Points a and b of Clause 4 of this Article: The blood-receiving unit may collect the difference between the total cost of the selected services and the received gift payment while being responsible for publicly explaining the situation to the donor. If the excess cost of the selected services does not exceed 10% of the received gift payment, the head of the blood-receiving unit may decide to use funds from blood supply activities to cover the cost and settle according to authority.

- The prices of services included in the gift package shall comply with the provisions of Circular No. 02/2017/TT-BYT dated March 15, 2017 of the Ministry of Health on the maximum ceiling prices for medical services not covered by the Health Insurance Fund in state-run healthcare facilities and guidelines for applying prices and settling costs in certain situations."

Article 2. Reference Provisions

In case the referenced documents in this Circular are replaced or amended, they shall be implemented according to the replacement document or the amended document.

Article 3. Effectiveness

1. This Circular takes effect from November 1, 2018.

2. Abolish Clause 2, Clause 3, and Clause 4 Article 4 of Circular No. 05/2017/TT-BYT dated April 14, 2017 of the Minister of Health on maximum prices and service costs for determining the price of a unit of whole blood and quality-certified blood products from the date this Circular takes effect. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, please report them to the Ministry of Health (Planning and Finance Department) for consideration and resolution.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, please report them to the Ministry of Health (Planning and Finance Department) for consideration and resolution./.