Blood free for anyone: Minister

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)