Blood price up in Surabaya

SURABAYA: The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has raised by almost 100 percent the price of blood stocks - from Rp 180,000 to Rp 300,000 per bag in private hospitals - after the government stopped subsidizing reagents, chemicals used to test the blood of prospective donors.

PMI Surabaya spokesman Agung Trijutanto said the blood stock price was also raised to Rp 200,000 per bag from the previous Rp 125,000 in state hospitals, with the new prices taking effect as of Feb. 1, 2009.

He added patients covered by the social insurance program were charged Rp 5,000 per bag.

The PMI will likely lobby the provincial and municipal governments to revive the subsidy, he said, adding the blood test was a prerequisite to avoid the transfer of viruses, including HIV. -JP