PNRC Administrator Hilda Muñoz claimed the Red Cross do not sell blood. She admitted, however, they collect the P1500 fee to cover expenses in screening the donated blood to assure that it is safe for use by the patient.
Muñoz added that the minimal fee is use to cover the cost of the re-agents for the examination, the blood bag, the disposable materials and other utencils.
She stressed that the fee was approved and regulated by the Department of Health and that they could not raise the rate without previous approval. She added there are penal sanctions if they would increase the fee.
Further, Muñoz asserted that those who need blood have to certainly pay for the blood screening for HIV-AIDS, hepatitis, syphilis and malaria.
The PNRC Administrator also said that donors are not paid but are given cards. In emergency cases, anyone could avail of the blood plasma but has to bring a donor to replenish
According to the PNRC, potential donors fill out a blood donation questionnaire form that includes direct questions about behaviours known to carry a higher risk of blood-borne infections — infections that are transmitted through the blood.
These behaviours include prostitution, intravenous drug use and others. A trained staff asks you about your medical/ health history and conducts a physical examination, which includes checking of blood pressure, pulse and temperature. All of the information from this evaluation is kept strictly confidential.
During the blood donation screening procedure, a small sample of blood taken from a finger prick is used to check hemoglobin level, the oxygen-carrying component of blood. If hemoglobin concentration is normal and all the other screening requirements are met, one can donate blood.
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