Dispur prohibits private hospitals to collect COVID-Convalescent Plasma

"In order to remove any doubts, it is reiterated that Health & Family Welfare department prohibits only collection of COVID-Convalescent Plasma by any privately owned institution/Private Nursing Home/Private Blood Bank in the entire State until further orders," an order issued by Principal Secretary of Health & Family Welfare department on July 29 said.

The order has, however, made it clear that private hospitals, blood banks and other non-government health institutions are free to carry out transfusion of COVID-Convalescent Plasma to needy patients by collecting plasma from any government blood bank as per availability, by making available a suitable replacement donor for the same.

Mission Director of NHM, Assam Dr Lakshmanan S on Friday said another machine has been installed at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital to collect COVID-Convalescent Plasma. He said the machine installed at Jorhat Medical College & Hospital for the same purpose was given trial run on Friday and it is expected to function from Saturday.

Dr Lakshmanan S said similar machines will soon start functioning at Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh, Silchar Medical College & Hospital and Tezpur Medical College & Hospital.

So far, 50 persons have donated blood for plasma at the GMCH. Besides, 300 others have also registered their names for blood donation. The Health department has also received 700 calls over 104 (toll-free) and other contract numbers and emails from people who are willing to donate blood for plasma.

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