Plasma bank to be set up in Delhi: Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced setting up of a ‘plasma bank’ for treatment of COVID-19 patients in the national capital, and said it will start operating in the next two days.
Addressing an online media briefing, he said the bank will be set up at the Delhi government-run Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences and doctors or hospitals will have to approach it for plasma if a COVID-19 patient needs the same. The Chief Minister said that the AAP government will encourage those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma. A helpline will also be set up by for queries related to donation of plasma.
He said that his government will make transportation arrangements for those willing to donate their plasma.
“The plasma bank will be first of its kind for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Perhaps, it will be the first plasma bank in the country,” he said.
Kejriwal, however, said that plasma
therapy is not a “sanjeevani booti” (divine herb).
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who had tested positive for COVID-19, was administrated plasma therapy. He has now recovered.
Kejriwal said relatives of a COVID-19 person are free to give plasma to the patient and it is not necessary to only donate to the bank.
He asserted that there is no shortage of beds in the national capital as several steps have been taken to effectively deal with the COVID-19 situation.