NEW DELHI: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shortlisted 21 hospitals to conduct clinical trials for plasma therapy, which uses antibodies from the blood of cured patients, to treat Covid-19 patients.
Soon, Clinical trials will be conducted by five hospitals in Maharashtra, four in Gujarat, two each in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, and
one each in Punjab, Karnataka, Telangana and Chandigarh
All You Need to Know About Plasma therapy:
The plasma therapy includes drawing out whole blood from a recovered patient from Covid-19 by separating the plasma. Nearly 400 ml plasma is drawn out from one person, which can be used to treat another two patients.
90 hospitals are in queue
Other 90 hospitals, including seven in Delhi, are under consideration for participating in the clinical trials. Hospitals in the capital which are awaiting approval include AIIMS, Indraprastha Apollo, Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Lady Hardinge Medical College, RML Hospital, Max Hospital-Saket and Indian Red Cross Society.
The health ministry had termed as “illegal” any use of the therapy beyond clinical trials earlier on 29th April. “The therapy can create life threatening conditions,” the ministry had said.
