ALARMED by increasing reports claiming a rise in the trade of convalescent plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients outside the realm of authorized health facilities, the Department of Health (DOH) has asked hospital chiefs to check their own staff if they engage in this practice, and local government units (LGUs) to investigate the matter.
“Trading blood and other blood products, including those from recovered Covid-19 patients, is not only illegal but highly dangerous. Convalescent plasma should not be for sale and should be voluntarily donated for Covid-19 patients in need,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said at the weekend.
Reports reaching the DOH in the past weeks said families of critically ill Covid-19 patients were allegedly buying convalescent plasma from recovered patients, hospital staff or fixers. Other reports even claimed that some people intentionally infect themselves so that their plasma can be donated after recovery, for which they are promised remuneration.
The DOH, meanwhile, also appealed to relatives of patients to stop dealing with fixers operating inside and outside the hospitals.
Duque admonished the public against the buying and selling of convalescent plasma of recovered Covid-19 patients.
Studies have shown that the unregulated trade of convalescent plasma could pose serious risks to patients, who may contract transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) such as HIV, hepatitis, and malaria.
The DOH emphasized that these alleged transactions and practices are illegal, reckless and dangerous. Those individuals do not only place their lives at risk, but they also put their families and communities at risk when they voluntarily get infected.
Only the Philippine Blood Center and the Philippine Red Cross-Port Area are the certified non-hospital-based convalescent plasma collection facilities. Philippine General Hospital and St. Luke’s Medical Center are the only hospitals certified to collect convalescent plasma for use in the treatment protocol.
Though used for Covid-19 treatment protocol in some local hospitals, convalescent plasma’s effectiveness as a therapy is still being evaluated and not yet part of the standard of care. To date, there is no concrete evidence to show that it is effective against SARS-Cov2.
According to the Republic Act 7719, also known as the “National Blood Service Act of 1994,” all blood and blood products shall be collected from volunteer blood donors only. Paid donation is not allowed, and facilities who will pay blood donors shall be penalized according to the DOH Administrative Order 36 series of 1994 Chapter VII, Section 26 and Chapter VIII, Section 41.
While officials from government hospitals like PGH call for blood plasma donations from recovered Covid-19 patients, DOH stressed that these donations should be done voluntarily and should go through the official process so as to ensure the safety of both recipients and voluntary donors.
Lastly, DOH enjoined the public to only donate blood voluntarily. “Only through voluntary donation will you be assured of your health and safety, and only through this selfless act of service will you reap the satisfaction of having helped save the life of someone in need,” it said.
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