NSW Private Hospitals Call for Blood Tax to be Defeated in Legislative Assembly

3 December 2008

NSW Private Hospitals are calling on the NSW Legislative Assembly to defeat the proposed Blood Tax introduced today where private hospitals are to be charged for blood and blood products. More than 50 private hospitals are collecting signatures of hospital staff, doctors and patients to present to the NSW Legislative Assembly. Along with the petitions, the Australian Private Hospitals Association is placing newspaper advertisements advising NSW taxpayers about the proposed Blood Tax.

“This proposed blood tax is preposterous,” said Michael Roff, CEO, Australian Private Hospitals Association. “It is illegal to trade in any human tissue, including blood, yet by saying that they will charge Private Hospitals, that is exactly what the NSW Government is proposing to do.”

“People donate their blood freely and expect to be able to receive it freely when they need it. Under this scheme, nearly half of NSW will be hit with this extra cost should they need blood.”

“This is effectively a tax on the sick and a way to get private patients to pay twice for blood. All Australians have already paid for blood through the tax system. NSW is now trying to make private patients pay twice which is discriminatory and excessive.”
“It is worrying to all of us who work in the hospitals industry to learn that donations of blood have declined in NSW since this measure was announced two weeks ago. This is a critical time of year for the Red Cross Blood Service and our hospitals are relying on people’s goodwill to give for the holiday season.”

For further information, contact:
Lisa Ramshaw, APHA, 02 6273 9000 or 0413 971 999