Plasma Blood Bank to be constituted in Delhi; first of its sort in the country

A plasma blood bank is to be constituted in Delhi’s ILBS hospital to fight coronavirus in the state, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal informed in a press conference on Monday.

The plasma bank will be aimed at helping those in need of plasma for Covid-19 treatment.

As the Chief Minister said, “We will set up a plasma bank in Delhi’s ILBS hospital. This will probably be the first in the country. Everyone, whether  government or private hospitals will be able to take plasma from here.”

However, one will require a prescription by the doctor or hospital to get plasma.

Plasma therapy trials had been carried out in the state 2 to 3 months back. When trials conducted on 29 COVID patients yielded in encouraging results, the decision to conduct plasma therapy was taken by the Delhi government.

As Arvind Kejriwal recalled, “We informed the Central government and got permission to conduct plasma therapy in government and private hospitals.”

The CM has appealed to those who have recovered from Covid-19 to come forward and donate plasma in Delhi’s ILBS hospital assuring them that, since it is not a COVID hospital,  donors need not be afraid of coming into contact with the disease yet again. The government will make all transportation arrangements for the ones ready to donate plasma.

“Those can give plasma who have recovered as there will be antibodies formed in their blood to fight coronavirus. The same plasma when given to a patient of Covid-19, the chance of recovery will improve ” the CM informed.

He further informed, “There was a severe crisis of beds in Delhi. People were faced with serious problems in getting beds to get COVID treatment done… but now the problem has been solved. We have added a lot of beds. We have 13.5K beds ready among which only 6000 beds are occupied, while 7500 beds are vacant. “