NEW DELHI: The country’s first plasma bank was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the state-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) on Thursday.Kejriwal after inspecting the facility said that plasma therapy will go a long way in saving numerous lives from coronavirus.
“A vaccine for corona has not been discovered yet, and until it arrives, plasma therapy will prove to be helpful in the treatment of patients,” said Kejriwal. He urged people who have recovered from the virus to come forward and donate plasma but stated that the guidelines for donor eligibility are strict to ensure that the patient’s being administered plasma do not face complications in the long run.
“There are strict guidelines for eligible donors. I would urge those people who have recovered from Covid-19 to come forward and donate plasma to other patients,” he said.A basic test of a donor will be conducted at ILBS upon arrival and plasma is collected only after one is deemed fit to donate. The government will also give a certificate of appreciation to the donors, said the chief minister.
Kejriwal said that the decision to form a dedicated plasma bank was done after witnessing a huge demand for plasma by family members of corona patients.
“We are not saying that no casualties will happen because of plasma therapy, but the results have been encouraging.”
“This plasma bank will only be successful if people come forward to donate. I want to request the people who have beat Covid to come forward and donate plasma 14 days after their recovery. The criteria to donate plasma is very stringent and will very few recovered patients will be eligible. So I urge every person eligible to come forward,” the chief minister added.
“Plasma will be given based on doctor’s prescription and the hospital concerned will have to approach ILBS to get the same. I request people to not approach the plasma bank directly,” he added.
Willing donors can register themselves by calling on 1031 or sending a message on WhatsApp at 8800007722.
Strict guidelines set for plasma donation
According to a senior doctor at the ILBS facility, for donors, there are some strict criteria and counselling and screening is done for them before the actual donation process begins. About two to two-and-a-half hours is the total time required to complete the entire procedure.
Individuals with HIV, hepatitis B or C, syphilis or other co-morbidities such diabetes, hypertension or renal problems cannot donate plasma. Someone weighing less than 50 kg, women who have ever been pregnant, cancer survivors, and those with kidney, heart, lung or liver diseases are also not eligible.