Circular No. 21/2009/TT-BYT guides the contents and funding levels for the work of receiving, screening whole blood and producing blood products that meet standards.

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for the content and expenditure levels for the work of receiving, screening whole blood and preparing blood products to meet standards

and processing blood products to meet standards

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Pursuant to Decree No. 188/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 27, 2007 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to Decision No. 43/2000/QĐ-TTg dated April 7, 2000 of the Prime Minister on mobilizing and encouraging voluntary blood donation;

Pursuant to Decision No. 198/2001/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2001 of the Prime Minister approving the Blood Safety Program;

After reaching consensus with the Ministry of Finance through Circular No. 15322/BTC-HCSN dated October 29, 2009 regarding comments on documents related to the price of whole blood and blood products, the Ministry of Health hereby provides guidelines for the content and expenditure levels for the work of receiving, screening whole blood and preparing blood products to meet standards as follows:

Article 1. Scope of application

This Circular applies to healthcare facilities with the function of selecting blood donors, receiving blood and blood components, preparing blood products, storing, preserving, and distributing blood and blood products (hereinafter referred to as blood receiving facilities) as prescribed by the Ministry of Health; Blood Donation Mobilization Committees at all levels; agencies, units, organizations participating in propaganda, mobilization, and organizing voluntary blood donation; and blood donors.

Article 2. Provisions on units of whole blood and blood products meeting standards.

1. Blood units and blood products meeting standards are collected and preserved in plastic bags containing anticoagulant after being subjected to all mandatory screening tests to ensure safe blood transfusion according to the Blood Transfusion Regulations issued together with Decision No. 06/QĐ-BYT dated January 19, 2007 of the Minister of Health (hereinafter referred to as Blood Transfusion Regulations).

2. For additional tests specified in Article 19 of the Blood Transfusion Regulations, including:

a) Screening tests for abnormal antibodies;

b) Alanine Aminotransferase enzyme test;

c) Screening tests for blood-borne infectious diseases: Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) screening for HBV, HCV, HIV; anti-HBc IgM, anti-CMV IgM, anti-HTLV-I and HTLV-II, Parvovirus B19 antibodies.

Blood centers shall only conduct these tests when they comply with the provisions of the Blood Transfusion Regulations. The costs of these tests are not included in the price of blood units and blood products; blood centers collect directly from patients or settle with the Health Insurance Fund (according to current laws on Health Insurance) at the approved hospital fee rates for each type of test.

Article 3. Content and expenditure levels for the work of receiving, screening, and preparing blood and blood products:

1. Support expenses for units and organizations organizing voluntary blood donation days: The maximum expenditure level is 30,000 VND per blood donor.

The content of support expenses, specific expenditure levels, and the use of this fund are implemented according to Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular No. 182/2009/TT-BTC dated September 14, 2009 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the content and expenditure levels for the work of propaganda and mobilization for voluntary blood donation.

2. Light meal expenses for blood donors (both voluntary and professional donors): The maximum expenditure level is 20,000 VND per person per donation. Blood receiving facilities are responsible for organizing carefully and transparently to allow donors to eat before or after donating blood.

b) For donors who donate blood components through apheresis:

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

- 140,000 VND for a blood unit with a volume of 250 ml.

- 200,000 VND for a blood unit with a volume of 350 ml.

- 260,000 VND for a blood unit with a volume of 450 ml.

In cases where the blood volume exceeds or falls below the above volumes, the corresponding amount will be added or reduced by 600 VND per 1 ml.

b) For individuals donating blood for component separation (platelet concentrate, granulocyte concentrate, peripheral blood stem cells...):

+ 300,000 VND for a product volume from 250 to less than 400 ml.

+ 450,000 VND for a product volume from 400 to 500 ml.

b) Gifts in kind aimed at encouraging and supporting the health of voluntary donors who donate blood components through apheresis (platelet concentrates, granulocyte concentrates, peripheral blood stem cells...):

a) Gift expenses in the form of physical items to encourage and maintain health for voluntary blood donors: The maximum expenditure level is 80,000 VND per person per donation (applicable to all blood volumes).

b) Support expenses for travel costs for voluntary blood donors: The maximum expenditure level is 30,000 VND per person per donation.

Blood receiving facilities base their decisions on actual conditions to determine support levels within the maximum expenditure levels mentioned above and the forms of support, ensuring encouragement and creating favorable conditions for voluntary blood donors.

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. Expenses for renting vehicles, purchasing fuel and oil when collecting blood at mobile collection points based on invoices and actual contracts.

7. Expenses for clinical examinations; expenses for purchasing materials, chemicals, tests, kits for conducting mandatory screening tests as stipulated in Article 17 of the Blood Transfusion Regulations.

8. Expenses for regular maintenance and upkeep of assets and equipment serving the work of receiving, screening, and storing blood and blood products.

9. Expenses for discarding blood units that do not meet standards (blood infected with blood-borne diseases or due to insufficient quantity).

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

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

Article 4. Management work

1. Medical facilities with the function of receiving blood must maintain records to monitor the situation of receiving, using funds for receiving, screening, processing, and storing blood and blood products in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. The preparation of budget estimates, implementation of budgets, and final accounts of funds shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of the State Budget Law, the Accounting Law, and other guiding documents currently in force.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

This Circular takes effect from January 5, 2010.

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