Plasma therapy to treat Covid-19 patients began at three hospitals of the State on Wednesday and it would be available free of cost.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made the announcement while inaugurating the plasma bank at SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack through video conferencing.
The therapy, which uses the plasma from the blood of recovered patients to treat critically ill patients, began at SUM Hospital and KIMS Hospital in Bhubaneswar and Aswini Hospital in Cuttack. The SCB has been designated as the nodal centre for the therapy.
This therapy is expected to be an effective tool in our fight against the global Covid-19 pandemic. Our doctors in Government medical colleges have made the entire State proud by introducing this advanced medical procedure,” the CM said while addressing the doctors.
“Our Government is committed to provide higher standard of medical care and treatment to the people of the State. No person in Odisha will be deprived of the latest medical technology,” he added.
The CM appealed to all the virus survivors to come forward to donate their plasma which he believes would go a long way in helping in the treatment of serious patients. He congratulated four donors who have volunteered to donate plasma on the day.
“I would like to announce that the plasma therapy will be made available free of cost to the people of Odisha,” Patnaik said.