Objective of the Administrative Order
- To regulate blood service fees as per Section 8 of the National Blood Services Act, emphasizing non-profit operation of blood banks/centers.
- Blood facilities may collect fees not exceeding the maximum allowed by the DOH.
Scope and Coverage
- Applicable to all Blood Service Facilities (BSFs) in the Philippines.
- Includes government, private, Local Government Units (LGUs), and Philippine Red Cross (PRC) facilities.
Definitions
- Blood Components: Include whole blood, red cells, granulocytes, plasma, cryoprecipitate, and cryosupernate.
- Blood Service Facilities: Includes Blood Banks (BB), Blood Centers (BC), Blood Collecting Units (BCU), and Blood Stations (BS).
- Blood Services Network: Organizations of blood centers, banks, stations, collecting units, and hospitals serving a geographic area.
- End User Hospital: Hospitals without blood service facilities but with licensed labs for typing and cross-matching, receiving blood as needed.
General Guidelines on Maximum Fees and Coverage
- New maximum fees set by DOH:
- Whole Blood: PHP 1,800
- Packed Red Blood Cells: PHP 1,500
- Other Components (Platelet Concentrate, Fresh Frozen Plasma, Cryoprecipitate, Cryosupernate): PHP 1,000
- Included coverage in the fees:
- Donor recruitment and screening
- Blood collection from voluntary donors
- Testing for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) including Hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, and syphilis.
- Additional screening tests like hemoglobin, blood typing, and vital signs.
- Component preparation and administrative expenses.
Specific Implementing Guidelines
- Blood Service Facilities must publicly post details of blood service fees in English or vernacular, including that "Blood is Free" but a service fee is charged for specified procedures.
- No additional fees (deposits, blood bonds, non-replacement fees) may be charged to patients or their relatives.
- Transfusion-related procedure costs must be billed separately and indicated in separate receipts.
- No honorarium fees shall be given to blood donors.
- Complaints or violations shall be reported to DOH Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau or regional offices for action.
Penalty Provisions
- Violations of fee limits as prescribed can result in suspension or revocation of the blood bank/center license by the Secretary of Health.
- Persons responsible for overcharging face imprisonment from one (1) to six (6) months, a fine from PHP 5,000 to PHP 50,000, or both.
Separability Clause
- If any provision is ruled void or unauthorized by competent authority, the rest of the order remains effective.
Repealing Clause
- This order supersedes inconsistent previous administrative orders, including Administrative Order No. 18 (1998) and No. 181 (2002).
Effectivity
- This order takes effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.