Delhi opens plasma bank, CM lists donation criteria

NEWDELHI: A plasma bank to treat novel coronavirus started functioning in Delhi on Thursday, with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that Covid-19 patients can donate their plasma 14 days after recovery.

Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal said the eligibility for being a plasma donor is “very strict”, and hoped that with this bank the number of Covid-19 deaths will decrease in the national capital.

Later, he inaugurated the ‘plasma bank’ and urged those who have recovered from the disease to donate plasma to other patients.

The government has set up the plasma bank at the state-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS).

“Today, we have started the ‘plasma bank’ and some people have also donated. As we all know there is no vaccine for novel coronavirus yet, but plasma therapy seems to be quite helpful for Covid patients,” he told reporters after visiting the plasma bank at ILBS. It (plasma donation) was happening in a scattered way, so the idea was to bring it at one place in an organised manner, he said”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. The chief minister said people who have recovered from the virus can contact 1031 and WhatsApp number -8800007722 -- where they can get details for plasma donation. The donor will also be given an appreciation letter.

About eligibility parameters for donors, Kejriwal said that those aged between 18 and 60 and weighing not less than 50 kg can donate their plasma.

He said that a women, who has been pregnant in her life, cannot donate plasma, adding that those people, who take insulin and their blood sugar level is not stable, also cannot be donors.