Magen David Adom received the okay from the Health and Finance Ministries to raise the price of a unit of blood by 21%. This is the price hospitals pay MDA for blood from the organization’s blood blank. According to officials in the nation’s largest HMO, the Clalit Kupat Cholim, which operates 13 hospitals nationwide, MDA is trying to solve its financial issues by increasing the price of units of blood.

According to MDA officials, a unit of red blood cells costs $200 in today’s international market. In Israel, the price remains 149 NIS. A month ago, a gradual price increase began bringing the price for the red blood cells to 175 NIS, and that price will reach 220 NIS by year’s end, a 45% increase but far less expensive than elsewhere.

95% of the blood used by hospitals in Israel comes from MDA, making the organization a monopoly since hospitals do not have another address for blood and blood components. The director of blood services Prof. Eilat Shinar explains it costs a great deal of money to keep the blood bank services going. The process begins with blood donations, processing, inspections and a sophisticated process that costs significant sums to maintain. She explains that after evaluating the system and the cost factor it became apparent that there must be a price increase despite the fact that the system is built on volunteers.

She points out that the system handles 900,000 units of blood annually, and in order to continue operating at the high standard that is maintained there must be some recognition of the rising costs of processing units of blood and its components. She explains that entire process of a unit of blood costs MDA 350 NIS.

Dr. Miki Sharaf, who represents the Clalit hospital network feels that adding “with all of the empathy for the needs and distress that exists in MDA, we are not the address to cover their fiscal debts, especially this past year which was exceptionally difficult for the healthcare system and the HMOs.”

Sharaf feels “an increase is in order, but not the sum being demanded by MDA, which will add an additional 8 million NIS to the annual deficit. We are talking about an essential life saving product that we cannot do without. Therefore, we cannot become more efficient in this area. We will have to absorb the price increase.”

Prof. Shinar responds, explaining “Hospitals, including those affiliated with Clalit, receive a reimbursement in the form of Health Ministry payment in the cost of daily hospitalization. This sum is updated periodically.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)