Blood free for anyone: Minister

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Sujudi has confirmed that no fees will be imposed on people who need blood, and that everybody can get it for free.

"Even if there is a fee, it a small amount for administrative costs only," Antara quoted Sujudi as saying in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday.

The minister was in Bogor to witness a ceremony marking the renovation of the Bogor chapter of the Red Cross (PMI) General Hospital. First Lady Tien Soeharto officiated at the ceremony.

Sujudi further said if there is someone who gives money to a blood donor as an expression of gratitude for the blood he or she donated to an ailing relative it is a "personal matter," Antara reported.

PMI chairman Ibnu Sutowo, who was also on hand at the ceremony, said the supply of blood in Indonesia is still sufficient and there is no reason for a hospital to claim its blood supply is running out.

"It is a lie if anyone claims that the blood supply at PMI is finished," Ibnu stressed. "It is only a dirty tactic of unscrupulous `calo darah' (those selling blood for commercial purposes)."

He pointed out that there has been no blood supply shortages in any hospital in the country. He attributed this mainly to the encouraging interest of people in donating their blood for humanitarian purposes.

"This is partly due to PMI's untiring campaign in making the public aware of the nobleness of voluntarily donating their blood to those who badly need it," Ibnu said. (bas)