India’s first plasma bank set up at Delhi Govt’s ILBS Hospital

India’s first plasma bank set up at Delhi Govt’s ILBS Hospital

CM Arvind Kejriwal and Dy CM Manish Sisodia visited India’s first plasma bank set up at Delhi government’s ILBS Hospital to review the preparations of plasma collection from recovered COVID patients. The country’s first plasma bank will donate plasma to COVID hospitals in Delhi, which include private, state govt, central govt, and MCD hospitals for the treatment of the patients.

Addressing a press briefing earlier in the day, Kejriwal cited the eligibility criteria over who can donate plasma. He also said the willing donors can register themselves through calling on 1031 or sending a message on WhatsApp at 88-0000-77-22.

Following the visit, Kejriwal tweeted: “Just reviewed Delhi govt’s new Plasma Bank. It is world-class and modern. Donors are being taken care of very well by staff. I urge recovered Corona patients to come forward and donate their plasma.”

Briefing the media on the visit, Kejriwal said: “The vaccine for COVID has not been discovered yet, but until it comes, plasma therapy will prove to be helpful in the treatment of Corona patients. We are not saying that no casualties will happen because of plasma therapy, but the results have been encouraging and they have shown that it will help reduce the death rate and save lives.”

“People were finding it really difficult to get plasma and the situation in Delhi was turning into a chaotic one. To have a systematic approach to it, this plasma bank has been set-up for the treatment of Corona patients. You might notice that people have come here to donate plasma. This plasma bank will only be successful if people come forward to donate. I want to request the people who have recovered for more than 14 days to donate plasma. The criteria to donate plasma is very stringent and will leave fewer recovered patients eligible. So I urge everyone who is eligible to come forward,” he added.

Dr. SK Sarin, MD, ILBS Hospital, explained to Kejriwal and Sisodia about various facilities of the hospital. The operations of the plasma bank have begun today, and Kejriwal also spoke to some plasma donors, took stock of the health conditions of each donor, and asked them about their date of testing positive and their date of recovery.

One of the donors also informed the CM that he was placed in home isolation when he was suffering from COVID-19 infection. The patient apprised the CM that during the home isolation process, the medical team of the Delhi Government took good care of him. The person also said that he constantly received calls from doctors who took updates on his health situation every day.

He appreciated the facilities provided by the Delhi government during his recovery process in home isolation. Members of the medical staff who had recovered from Corona were also donating plasma. ILBS doctors said that people are motivated before donating plasma so that they do not have any insecurity or misconceptions about the process. The Chief Minister also met the blood bank team. The doctors briefed Kejriwal in detail about the precautions to be taken while taking plasma.