Nepal Permits ‘Plasma Therapy’ for COVID-19 Treatment in 12 Hospitals!

The coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep the globe, with the number of infections crossing 18,000,000 mark and death toll crossing 700,000 mark.

As of today, the coronavirus has infected 18,702,734 people and claimed 704,365 lives globally. Currently, there are 6,081,139 active cases and 11,917,230 recovery cases.

COVID-19 in Nepal

Nepal has reported 259 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s caseload to 21,009.

Meanwhile, a total of 65 patients were discharged from various hospitals across the country. With this, the total recovery cases in Nepal reached 15,026.

Lately, an 18-year-old girl from Pokhariya municipality-9 died while undergoing treatment at Narayani Hospital, taking the country’s death toll to 59.

Among the active cases, 36 patients are in critical condition, with 34 undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and two on a ventilator.

Plasma Therapy for COVID-19 Treatment

For the first time in Nepal, a coronavirus patient has been treated with plasma therapy at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH).

A 60-year-old male from Biratnagar who went through plasma therapy showed significant improvement in his health. Earlier, the patient was treated in the ICU and was later put on a ventilator. However, his health was improved only after plasma treatment.

With this promising result, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has permitted 12 hospitals in the country for plasma therapy to treat COVID-19 patients.

Nine public hospitals and three private hospitals have been permitted to adopt plasma therapy. The hospitals include-

• BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan
• Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre
• TUTH, Maharajgunj
• Shukraraj Tropical Hospital, Teku
• Narayani Hospital, Birjung
• Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar
• Karnali Institute of Health Sciences, Jumla
• Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj
• Seti Hospital, Dhangadhi
• MediCity Hospital, Kathmandu
• Grandee Hospital, Kathmandu
• HAMS Hospital, Kathmandu

What is COVID-19 Plasma Therapy?

Plasma therapy involves using blood plasma from COVID-19 recovered patients as they carry antibodies against the coronavirus in their plasma. So, the plasma from recovered patients is infused into the newly infected patients who do not have antibodies to fight the illness.

However, as this is a trial therapy, it may not work in all cases.

Apart from plasma therapy, antivirals like Remdesivir and favipiravir, antithrombotic drugs and steroids should also be administered to the patients. So, patients may recover when all such therapies are used in combination. And even despite all these, many patients may not improve or benefit.

Stay Tuned to Nepali Sansar for Live COVID-19 Updates!