Punjab has received the nod from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to undertake clinical trials for convalescent plasma therapy on Covid-19 patients. It may be recalled that Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had allowed use of this therapy in April when Assistant Commissioner of Police Anil Kohli was tested corona positive and admitted to SPS Hospital in Ludhiana. However, the ACP passed away before his treatment could be started. However, Punjab pursued the matter and a formal proposal was sent to ICMR for approval.
Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman, Covid Health Sector Response & Procurement Committee, said that the ICMR, New Delhi, had given its nod to conduct the trial, which is expected to commence shortly. According “The Government Medical College Amritsar and Patiala, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at Amritsar, The Christian Medical College and Hospital at Ludhiana, the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital at Ludhiana and Satguru Partap Singh Hospital, also in Ludhiana, have partnered to undertake the clinical trial of convalascent plasma therapy,” Mahajan said. The inter-institution coordination would be done by the Principal Investigators, who would also ensure that the entire trial is conducted in strict accordance with the ICMR protocol at each institution, she added.