The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has decided to treat coronavirus patients through blood plasma therapy, says head of the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) Dr Tahir Shamsi.

Dr Shamsi said two lives can be saved by using plasma of one person who has recovered from coronavirus, adding that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is on the rise. He said that a person can donate his plasma again a week after the first donation. He said that 80 percent of the coronavirus patients usually recover after plasma therapy. Dr Shamsi said, “Now the government should make an appeal for plasma donations, and not any institute.”

On May 21, Dr Tahir Shamsi had appealed to coronavirus patients who have recovered from the infection to donate blood plasma.In his appeal, Dr Tahir Shamsi had said that there was an alarming increase in the number of critical patients admitted to hospitals.

“We are in dire need of donations from recovered coronavirus patients for passive immunisation therapy,” he said, adding that people from any blood group could donate plasma to them. He had said that many lives could be saved from the plasma donated from recovered virus patients. Dr Tahir Shamsi urged those willing to donate plasma to contact the relevant staff via helpline 0333-2976390.