Government hospitals pulled up for charging patients for blood

MEERUT: Uttar Pradesh education and training department has pulled up government hospitals and medical college authorities for charging patients for blood despite the fact that it is provided free statewide since February, 2018. It should be noted that on February 7, 2018, the state government authorities had announced that blood for patients of thalassemia, haemophilia and other blood disorders will not have to pay the processing charges if they take blood from state hospitals and medical colleges. Authorities say that multiple complaints have come to fore that government hospitals continue to charge patients when they need blood.

“It was notified in February 2018 that all government hospitals and medical colleges will stop charging for blood that they give to patients and for that, a budget was also allotted to blood banks. Patients of thalassemia, haemophilia and other blood disorders need blood at regular intervals,” read the order issued by Dr KK Gupta, director general, department of medical education and training.

Despite the orders, authorities say that some government hospitals and medical colleges continued to charge from the patients like it was done previously.

“It has come to our notice that despite having made blood free for the patients, some government hospitals and medical colleges continue to charge. This is against the norms of the state government,” read Dr Gupta’s order.

In this backdrop, the authorities have been warned that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.