Tata Main Hospital (TMH) has stopped plasma therapy for the treatment of Covid-19 patients in the wake of fresh guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) -- the Centre’s topmost medical advisory panel -- on Monday.

The government on Monday dropped the use of convalescent plasma therapy for treating Covid patients from Clinical Management Guidelines.

Last week, the ICMR-National Task Force for Covid-19 held a meeting in which all the members were in favour of removing the use of convalescent plasma from the guidelines, citing its ineffectiveness and inappropriate use in several cases.

Addressing a telephonic conference on Tuesday evening Dr Rajan Choudhry, advisor, and former general manager, Medical Services, Tata Steel said that following the ICMR guidelines the hospital decided to do away with plasma therapy.

TMH has been using plasma therapy since last year for the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

He informed that the Covid-19 positivity rate has reduced from 32.84 on May 9 to 30.48 on May 16. In the last four days, 136 Covid positive patients were admitted.

The hospital till Tuesday witnessed a total of 6,794 admissions. The deaths at the hospital have also reduced to 39 in the last four days with 9 to 10 deaths per day while the figure in the last week was 13 to14 per day.

Out of 39 deaths, 30 were from East Singhbhum, four from Seraikela -Kharsawan, two from West Singhbhum, one from Dhanbad and one from Ramgarh. The recovery rate has improved to 78.14 per cent.

Meanwhile, the hospital so far completed 50,000 vaccinations.

The hospital issued an appeal saying that even after vaccination, one must continue to follow Covid-19 appropriate behavior that includes use of mask, hand sanitisation, social distancing and avoiding crowded places.

Dr Choudhry informed that they are also operating with several constraints as several doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff have been infected with Covid -19.

Training module to combat third wave

TMH has also started taking preventive measures to combat the possible third wave of Covid- 19.

Rajan Choudhry said that they were augmenting pediatric facilities, concerned over reports suggesting that the third wave would mostly impact children.

He said they have plans to increase the number of ventilators for children. Apart from improving pediatric infrastructure, the hospital has also launched training modules for health staff to help them prepare to fight the next wave.