State’s first plasma bank inaugurated at KGMU

LUCKNOW: The state’s first plasma bank was inaugurated at the King George’s Medical University on August 15 to help Covid -19 patients admitted anywhere to avail plasma therapy.

Inaugurating the plasma bank via video conferencing, governor Anandiben Patel appealed that those who had recovered from Covid-19 should come forward and donate plasma for treatment of other patients.

“The idea is to start supplies of plasma all over the state in a channelised manner, including patients admitted to the private sector hospitals,” said Prof Tulika Chandra, HoD transfusion medicine at the KGMU and the brain behind the plasma bank.

“Earlier we needed approvals for giving plasma to patients outside the KGMU but the process will be easy and shorter now. Also all plasma donors will have a single place to come and donate,” she said.

The proposed fee for Covid -19 patients admitted to private hospitals was likely to be Rs 7000 per unit, preferably with donor, she said. “In plasma therapy, the immunity developed by a treated patient is used to treat others. Under this, plasma donated plasma by the treated patients is transfused to an admitted patient, which is called plasma therapy,” said Dr Sandeep Kapoor, director Healthcity hospital. Plasma donated by a treated patient is administered to a patient of the same blood group.Till now KGMU had received 40 plasma donations and about 25 patients had been given the therapy, said Prof Chandra.