Poor patients get free plasma

Convalescent plasma therapy includes the transfusion of the survivor’s plasma that is believed to have antibodies to fight off the coronavirus to a patient presently battling COVID-19

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will launch a Samaritan Program that will give convalescent plasma free to underprivileged COVID-19 patients.

Now that blood plasma produced by COVID-19 survivors appears to be a

potential treatment for severely ill COVID-19 patients, the PRC officially opened on Monday its own convalescent plasma center in Port Area, Manila.

Convalescent plasma therapy includes the transfusion of the survivor’s plasma that is believed to have antibodies to fight off the coronavirus to a patient presently battling COVID-19.

The therapy boosts the patients’ immune system, enabling it to fight COVID-19, some medical studies claimed.

However, due to the small number of recovered COVID-19 patients who are donating plasma, only a limited supply is available, especially in the Philippines.

Moreover, as the blood undergoes a series of testing and processing to ensure its safety and quality, its cost ranges from P30,000 to P50,000 per unit of bag of convalescent plasma apheresis product in government hospitals. These are more expensive in private hospitals.

Due to the small number of recovered COVID-19 patients who are donating their plasma, only a limited supply is available, especially in the Philippines.

Senator Richard Gordon, who is also the chairman of the PRC, said the Samaritan Program will provide hope to the poor COVID-19 patients who can’t afford to purchase the potential treatment for their illness.

“We will launch a Samaritan Program for the convalescent plasma for the poor. It should not be limited to the rich. The funds we will be able to collect will be for them, to help our fellow Filipinos prolong their lives. This is a huge thing for the patients who are hoping to be cured,” Gordon said.