Plasma therapy grinds to a halt in Mysuru

MYSURU: Much to the chagrin of donors, plasma therapy has taken a hit in the district as the machine used to separate plasma from blood in KR Hospital — the only government facility authorised by ICMR to collect blood from recovered Covid-19 patients — has become obsolete.
The device at KR Hospital is more than two decades old and authorities were forced to discontinue the process of receiving blood due to lack of compatible kits. Officials say the government was asked to replace the equipment with an advanced one in May, but there is no word yet on it.
Dr CP Nangaraj, dean and director, Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) said the machine was purchased in 1999. “To overcome the challenge, MMCRI has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mandya Medical Institute of Medical Sciences to draw blood from donors, extract the plasma and send it to us.”
However, whether donors are willing to make the 45km trip to Mandya to donate blood is the question. A physician said it would have been better to have made a pact with a private hospital in Mysuru itself.
KR Hospital blood bank officer Dr BS Manjunath said the last time blood was collected from a donor was on Monday. “So far about 20 recovered patients have donated blood,” he said.