Two Covid-19 hospitals in Noida seek ICMR nod for plasma therapy

Meenakshi Sinha | TNN | Updated: Apr 22, 2020, 12:56 IST

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NOIDA: Two Covid hospitals in the district — Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) and Super Speciality Paediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute (SSPHPGTI), also known as Child PGI — have applied for Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) certification to start blood plasma treatment on Covid-19 positive patients.
According to Brigadier (retd) Dr RK Gupta, director GIMS, blood plasma of treated Covid patients, when used to treat new Covid patients, result in higher success rates.
“That’s because the treated Covid-19 patient’s blood plasma develop rich antibodies against the virus and act as a booster for new patient’s recovery,” said Dr Gupta on Tuesday.
On Monday, a 49-year-old Covid-19 patient, who had received plasma therapy at Max hospital in Delhi’s Saket, was successfully weaned off the ventilator and shifted from the ICU.
Although GB Nagar has no critical case currently, the two Covid hospitals of the district have applied for ICMR regulation and certification to begin plasma therapy for the speedy recovery of patients. “We have sought permission from ICMR over use of blood plasma from treated Covid-19 patients for the treatment of new patients. We have the infrastructure and the expertise. Moreover, we have the data bank of the treated patients to draw plasma from,” said Dr DK Gupta director Child PGI hospital, Sector 30.
Dr RK Gupta said, “We got an email from ICMR on the matter on Monday asking for our facility requirement, preparedness such as how much equipment are required and whether an ethical committee for the purpose is in place. They have asked for a concept proposal, which we will be submitting and we expect fast-track sanction, given the rise in cases.”
He added: “Since we are treating adult Covid-19 patients, when we get clearance from ICMR we will call them from our database to donate blood plasma on voluntary basis for the treatment of new Corona patients at the hospital.”
Meanwhile, Dr DK Gupta further added that Child PGI would also be a part of ICMR’s research project to evaluate the efficacy of the use of blood plasma from the recovered corona patients in moderate to seriously ill children with the infection and even other associated problems.