Minister Vijayabaskar inaugurates plasma bank for Covid-19 in Chennai Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital

In India, about 18 in 20 gets cured of Covid-19 infection by adopting to ‘plasma therapy’ treatment. 

Blood plasma is a yellowish liquid which makes up about 55 percent of  human blood volume. After a viral infection, the plasma contains antibodies which can be used to help fight infection. Blood plasma from a patient who has recovered from COVID-19 is transfused into a critically ill patient to help fight infection. 

Considering the success of plasma therapy,  the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation, has procured modern equipments at a cost of Rs. 2.50 crore for setting up a 'Plasma' Bank at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai.

This modern facility will help 7 people to donate plasma at a specific time. People of age between 8 and 65, who have recovered from Covid-19 are eligible to donate plasma 14 days after the onset of the infection.

It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu government had earlier announced its plans of introducing plasma therapy in Stanley Medical College hospital, Government Medical College in Omandurar and Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai, besides medical colleges in  the districts of Trichy, Salem, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore. 

The much awaited Plasma Bank was inaugurated today at Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai by Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar. It was attended by a number of Ministers, as well as doctors and staff. Plasma Bank for Covid-19 is present only in Tamil Nadu and Delhi in India.