Captain Amarinder Singh gives go-ahead to set up plasma bank as COVID cases spike in Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday gave go-ahead for the establishment of a Plasma Bank to facilitate Covid plasma therapy treatment. The plasma therapy is already being carried out as an ICMR trial project in the state’s government hospitals.
The Chief Minister approved the establishment of the Plasma Bank under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Neelam Marwaha, former Head of Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine, who is already involved in, and guiding, the Plasma Therapy Trials.
The Plasma Bank would serve as a ready inventory source for seriously ill patients or those at risk of severe disease, and thus will enable a wider range of adults to be treated with convalescent plasma.
In total 15 patients have been recruited for the trial, of whom 8 were given plasma, and rest 7 had been placed in control arm as per randomisation by ICMR. Five patients have recovered completely and shall be discharged soon. A total of 11 donors have donated plasma so far of the 300 recovered patients, the meeting was informed.
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He pointed out that 258 cases had been reported on Wednesday, with 11 PCS and other senior officers, including CMO Sangrur, judges etc, infected so far. The Chief Minister stressed the need to raise the guard even further.
-PTC News
