Punjab gets first plasma bank in Patiala

Punjab’s first plasma bank for the coronavirus patients was inaugurated at Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala by state Medical Education and Research Minister OP Soni through video conferencing on Tuesday.

Chandigarh: Punjab’s first plasma bank for the coronavirus patients was inaugurated at Government Rajindra Hospital, here on Tuesday.

Moving closer to effectively fighting Covid-19, Punjab Medical Education and Research Minister OP Soni, formally inaugurated state’s first plasma bank for transfusion of Immunoglobin antibodies for the treatment of COVID-19 patients through video conferencing on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Soni said that the development will play a vital role in the fight against the pandemic, and the country's second plasma bank established in Punjab after Delhi will prove to be a milestone.

Mentioning that various trials of plasma therapy have been successful in the state, Soni said the success paved the way for the establishment of plasma bank.

The minister hailed the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh to minimize the COVID-19 deaths and contain the spread of the infection in the state.

Giving information about the newly-established bank, the minister said that it is equipped with two plasma machines and a third machine would be introduced soon.

"We have no shortage of testing kits for antibody testing and latest testing equipment will be available soon," he added.

While asserting that the initiative would only be successful with the support of the people, he appealed to all the recovered Covid-19 patients to come forward to donate plasma.

Patients can donate their plasma 28 days after recovery and up to four months.

On the occasion, Principal Secretary of the department, Mr. D.K. Tewari informed that Rajindra Hospital has a 600-bed isolation facility for Covid patients with 100 percent oxygen supply to each bed and 54 ventilators for critically-ill patients.

He said that the number of ventilators would reach 100 in the coming days.