Peshawar: A number of passive immunisation experts have urged the government to make it mandatory for COVID-19 survivors to donate their antibody-rich blood plasma in a bid to save the lives of the newly infected, according to news sources.
Principal Investigator Passive Immunisation Clinical Trial in COVID-19 Pandemic Pakistan — a federal initiative — and renowned haematologist Prof Tahir Shamsi said that the medical practitioners require more blood plasma for the treatment of the infected. He revealed that 86% of the COVID-19 patients, who were treated with blood plasma, have recovered and urged the government to launch a campaign and legislation to avert the prevailing health crisis.
Prof Shamsi said that in view of the surging coronavirus cases in Pakistan, the passive immunisation experts will need 150 plasma donations per day – which they are having trouble finding. He urged Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to help spread the awareness regarding benefits of plasma donations for those who are infected.
The haematologists also revealed that the cost of passive immunisation is about PKR 30, 000, however the said initiative does it for free. He also added that he had sent a letter to the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on health Dr Zafar Mirza regarding the scarcity of convalescent plasma in the country and for an official National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) notification for plasma donations by COVID-19 survivors.
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