DUSHANBE, March 3, 2009, Asia-Plus – The price of blood has risen dramatically in Tajikistan, as parliament discusses a new law on blood donors and transfusions, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported.
For example, prices for blood and frozen plasma have doubled in southern Tajikistan.
Jumaboy Sanginov, a member of the Tajik parliament”s lower chamber, tells RFE/RL”s Tajik Service that the new law would impose stricter requirements for the health of blood donors, in an attempt to minimize tainted transfusions.
In a report in May 2008, the World Bank said the health systems in Central Asian countries have an “urgent need” to improve their blood-screening efforts.
“After rescreening samples from 7,500 donors, the results showed a clear and present danger that blood contaminated with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis may be entering into the countries” blood supply,” the report found.
