GUWAHATI: Assam government has launched a multi-pronged strategy to facilitate plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients in Assam in a big way to avoid admitting critical patients in ICUs.
Assam Health Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said as part of the initiative to set up a plasma bank in the state, the Health Department will launch a drive to collect plasma donations from all the recovered COVID-19 symptomatic patients in the state as well as others states where plasma therapy has not been initiated it.
So far five persons including one doctors have donated plasma in the state after recovering from COVID-19 infection and three patients could be given plasma therapy so far in the state. Four more persons including two doctors will donate plasma in next two days.
Dr Sarma informed, “If such plasma can be given to a moderately infected COVID-19 patients, 90 % of them can be saved. One donor can give about 400 ml plasma and with this quantity two COVID-19 patients could be saved.
“A recovered COVID patient can donate plasma after 28 days from the day of his/her release from the hospital. A recovered patient can donate plasma within three months from his/her recovery date.
“We are now issuing plasma card to recovered patients at the time of release from the hospital and they will be contacted later for plasma donation or they may contact 104 to donate plasma at the appropriate time. Those who have donated plasma will be given preference in government jobs/works and benefits under government welfare schemes on a later date.”
Moreover, Assam government will float nationwide appeal to suitable recovered COVID-19 patients from some other states to donate plasma to Assam’s plasma bank. Those wiling donate plasma will be treated as state guests to Assam and their entre cost of travelling to Assam and stay will be borne by the state government.
Assam government has already set up a virtual plasma bank and is setting up six plasma separation units in six medical colleges in the state. A seven-member team in NHM state headquarter here will manage the plasma bank.