Biratnagar, August 3 Nepal Red Cross Society Morang has hiked the price of blood going against the advice of stakeholders. Effective from August 16, Red Cross has increased the price of blood by Rs 25 per pint. President Subodh Kumar Singh of Red Cross Morang said the new price was determined after calculating the cost of testing, storage, and blood bags, among others. Earlier, the cost of blood per pint stood at Rs 785 while the new price is Rs 810. Meanwhile, stakeholders have protested the price hike of blood saying that the increased price had directly affected poor and needy people. Founder Chairman of Youth for Blood Saroj Karki said it was not fair to increase the price of blood on any pretext. “We had pressed the Red Cross to decrease the price earlier, however it has been increased,” he added. He said this had directly affected poor and needy people. Similarly, Chairman of Public Forum Uttam Dhungel said it was wrong to increase price of blood. He stressed on easy access of blood to poor people.