Bhagalpur: Panel formed to start plasma therapy

BHAGALPUR: A six-member committee has been formed at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH) here to form the modalities and to procure necessary medical equipment to start plasma therapy at the hospital.
The committee headed by head of the department of medicine, Dr Binay Kumar, comprises head of surgery department Dr Mrityunjay Kumar, associate professor and nodal officer for Covid-19 at JLNMCH Dr Hem Shankar Sharma, Dr P B Mishra, department of medicine, head of the pathology department, Dr Satyendra Kumar, and blood bank incharge Dr Rekha Jha.
Earlier, JLNMCH doctors had raised the issue related to starting plasma therapy when principal secretary (health) Prataya Amrit had reached here on July 31 to review the facilities at the hospital and nearby government hospitals.
Later, Bhagalpur DM Pranav Kumar organized a meeting with JLNMCH principal Dr Hemant Kumar Sinha, college council members, senior doctors and the superintendent on Sunday. Special officers, who have been deputed by the state government to oversee and monitor the treatment of Covid patients at Bhagalpur region, Deepak Mishra (IAS) and Bharat Soni (IPS) were also present in the meeting.
Recently, the Bhagalpur chapter of India Medical Association (IMA) also sought attention of the state government to start plasma therapy at Bhagalpur. IMA secretary Dr Birendra Kumar Badal, also made an appeal to the patients, who recovered from Covid-19 infection, to donate plasma in order to save the lives of people from the deadly disease.
The JLNMCH principal said the committee has been formed to frame modalities for starting plasma therapy at the earliest. “Plasma (extract from blood) of the patients, after their recovery develops antibodies. The plasma on being transfused to other critically ill Covid-19 patients helps in developing antibodies in the suffering patients and fight against the deadly disease,” he said.
He added, “We hope to start plasma therapy, as per the guidelines of Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). It will help in saving lives of patients.”