Gordon clarifies: PH Red Cross' blood processing fee 'lowest' in PH

Philippine Red Cross Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon said the humanitarian organization’s blood processing fee is currently the lowest across the Philippines. To clear up confusion regarding this matter, Gordon said PH Red Cross offers donated blood for free, but in order to ensure that each unit of blood is safe for transfusion, blood processing is necessary — hence, the need for blood processing fee. “[PH Red Cross] needs reagents and other supplies. Each unit of blood will be tested for transfusion-transmitted infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and C, Malaria, and Syphilis,” said Gordon on Friday, Feb. 24. This, however, is not only for blood testing. The fee, as explained by Gordon, covers donor screening, component preparation, and storage among others. “Blood processing fees collected by the [PH Red Cross] conform with the allowable fees set forth by the Department of Health (DOH),” Gordon reiterated. To date, the organization has 31 blood centers and 71 blood collection units across the Philippines.