PESHAWAR: The first Covid-19 patient has recovered after transfusion of convalescent plasma immunisation at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.

The hospital has initiated collection of plasma from the recovered Covid-19 patients as part of the national trial to reduce mortalities during the pandemic under the leadership of Prof Tahir Shamsi of National Institute of Blood Diseases Karachi.

A Covid-19 patient recently recovered and left the hospital after plasma immunisation. A number of other patients have also consented to become part of this trial. The hospital, meanwhile, has launched an appeal for more donations to be able to provide treatment to more patients.

HMC medical director Prof Shehzad Akbar Khan told Dawn that they had relevant approval for pursuing convalescent plasma immunisation programme at the provincial level. He added that they were looking for healthy donors, who recovered from the pandemic.

“Another patient, who has received plasma, is doing well. We are requesting that all the recovered patients should donate plasma to save lives of those infected with Covid-19,” said Prof Shehzad.

HMC medical director seeks plasma donations to set up a bank for the purpose

He said that they had a dedicated plasmapheresis setup in the hospital. There is a special team looking after the arrangements led by head of HMC’s pathology department Prof Shahtaj Khan, who is working tirelessly for the purpose.

“Prof Mohammad Usman is the clinical focal person for the relevant limb of this activity. The donors don’t face any health problem because we collect only their plasma, which contains anti-bodies against Covid-19 virus, and not the whole blood,” said Prof Shehzad.

He said that they a very loud and clear message should be circulated that it was Sadqa-i-Jaariyah that would bring perpetual blessings to the donor. Those, who have recovered from the pandemic, have been blessed with this opportunity of saving lives of others infected with the virus.

“Saving one life is just like saving the whole humanity. So be generous and volunteer for this great cause,” he said in a message to the healed patients.

Prof Shehzad said that the recovered people should be encouraged to donate plasma three to four weeks after they tested positive. “They have their antibody and routine virology tests done before collection. Plasma from one person can help save lives of up to two patients,” he added.

He said that so far, the donors included HMC own healthcare staff. “We are requesting for more donations to be able to establish a bank, which can cater to the needs of patients of different blood groups,” he added.

Prof Shehzad said that in addition to local donations, they received some plasma from National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD) Karachi as part of an exchange arrangement. He said that it was still too early to comment on the outcome scientifically but they hoped for better results.

“Since it is an approved trial, details of donors or recipients cannot be shared. But generally, we are actively pursuing the programme. We, however, need more donors -- the people who have recovered from the disease -- to build up our capacity,” said Prof Shehzad.

He said that Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan granted approval for the trial subject to certain protocols, which were closely observed. There is a complete set of guidelines to seek suitability and consent of donors and recipients prior to the mandatory laboratory investigations.

The potential donors should preferably be men, below 55 years of age having no other ailment. The province has 1,700 recovered patients, who need to step up and donate plasma for the treatment of other patients.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2020