Lack of organised network for plasma donation hampers Covid-19 treatment in Mysuru

Mysuru: Against a backdrop of a rising Covid-19 graph in Mysuru district, the lack of clarity on seeking plasma therapy is proving to be a handicap in the battle against the pandemic. Mysuru district has done commendably well in terms of its recovery rate, with over 12,000 patients who contracted Covid-19 now being free of the infection.
The efficacy of plasma therapy in treating Covid-19 patients has been repeatedly emphasised by doctors, but the lack of an organised network to seek donation from those who have recovered from the infection is hampering the chances of those now battling it in Mysuru district. Kin of Covid-19 patients advised plasma therapy by doctors have been left with no option but to reach out those who have recovered from the infection through blood donors’ groups.
Stakeholders in Mysuru district believe that there is a need to raise awareness among the people to clear them of misapprehensions about plasma donation if it is to see a spike in the number of voluntary plasma donations. Recounting the ordeal he went through to get a plasma donor for a relative with Covid-19 and on ventilator support at a private hospital, a Mysuru resident said, “I had to struggle for two days to locate a willing donor. I had to reach out to all family members, friends and blood donors’ groups. There is no plasma facility at the Krishna Rajendra (KR) Hospital's blood bank. Many of those who had recovered from the infection too expressed reluctance in donating plasma citing stigma attached to visiting a Covid-19 hospital.”
Fortunately, he was able to get one unit of plasma, largely owing to the efforts of his relative. But the prospect of doctors asking for another unit of plasma is keeping him worried nevertheless.
A blood bank officer in Mysuru city said that, since the beginning of August, he had made 1,000 calls to patients who had recovered from Covid-19, beseeching them to come forward to donate plasma, to little avail. “Family members of Covid-19 patients ask why they cannot donate plasma just as they can do with blood. It is rather hard to convince them and explain the difference,” he added.
Sources at a blood bank in Mysuru city said that one unit of plasma costed around Rs 9,900.
Dr Manjunath BS, who works at the KR Hospital’s blood bank office, said that, as on August 17, only 26 patients who had recovered from Covid-19 in Mysuru city had donated plasma. The plasma collection equipment at KR Hospital being in a state of disrepair has prompted the authorities to send willing donors to Mandya. “Not enough patients who have recovered from the infection are coming forward to donate plasma,” Dr Manjunath admitted.
Dr Lakshmi Narasimhan R, a Mysuru-based pulmonologist, echoed the observation of a deficit in the number of people coming forward to donate plasma compared with the demand for it. “Nearly 5% of patients with Covid-19 require plasma from those who have recovered. The success rate of plasma treatment is around 50%. Only those patients the condition of whom is grave and are on ventilator are treated with plasma therapy,” said Dr Narasimhan, reiterating the need to rid people of the misconceptions surrounding plasma donation.