Ready for plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients, sought ICMR nod: Rajasthan health minister

Rajasthan is prepared to conduct plasma rapy on severely-ill COVID-19 patients and has written to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) seeking permission to carry out treatment, state health minister Raghu Sharma said on Saturday.

Under convalescent plasma rapy technique, plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 is transfused to patients who are in severe condition.

Sharma said number of coronavirus cases reported in state has risen to 2,061 on Saturday afteron and asserted that Rajasthan has so far done highest 79,000 tests in country.

COVID-19 death rate in country is 3.18 per cent while state aver is 1.43 per cent. state government's efforts have brought death rate under control, minister said.

"A team of doctors is fully prepared for convalescent plasma rapy. state government has written to ICMR for permission. Treatment through plasma rapy can be started as soon as permission is received," Sharma said, ding rapy can be used to treat severe or st-two patients.