Bernard Allen
Ceist:141 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has approved an increase in charges to hospitals for blood products and services for the blood bank; and the range of increases sanctioned. [5064/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Charges.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, derives its income from charges to hospitals for the blood components, blood products and services it provides. In order to meet anticipated increases in the service's cost-base in 2002, the following range of increases in blood components, blood products and services was approved by my Department in December 2001, with effect from 1 January 2002:
|
% |
|
|
Blood and blood components |
46 |
|
Compatibility tests |
46 |
|
Blood group investigations |
46 |
|
HLA tests |
117 |
|
Heart valves |
82 |
|
Corneas |
39 |
|
Recombinant products |
3.5 |
Arising from these increases hospitals will pay an additional €12.678 million, IR£9.998 million, to the IBTS to fund the following: costs associated with the continued implementation of the service's redevelopment plan together with its blood quality and safety programme; costs arising in respect of measures to minimise the risk of transmission of vCJD, including the replacement of plasma and cryoprecipate with imported products; loss of income arising from the reduction in the demand for red cells through the introduction of blood conservation strategies in hospitals; costs of new mobile clinic in the western region and fixed donor clinics; increased donor recruitment and advertising costs; new HIV and hepatitis B core tests to enhance blood quality and safety; pathogen inactivation of labile blood products; and increased pay costs under the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness.
The amount set aside for IBTS price increases represents 8% of the total amount of development funding available to the acute hospital sector in 2002. There is, therefore, a requirement on the IBTS to deliver its services in a manner which ensures efficiency and value for money notwithstanding the necessity to continue to improve blood safety in line with international developments. My Department has requested the IBTS to reflect this objective in all its activities, existing and planned. Given the impact of these increases on hospital development, I expect the IBTS to implement an efficiency programme to achieve greater economy and effectiveness without compromising blood safety. WP leading adjustment