BS RAWAT

Facing a plasma crunch, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has announced that the LNJP hospital in the national capital will now start its own process of plasma donation in the next two-three days.

With the hospital having its own plasmapheresis machine, now the demand of LNJP Hospital patients can be met, he disclosed.

Mr Sisodia, who is also in charge of the health portfolio, directed the hospital administration to ensure that patients coming for plasma donation were made to feel "secure" and "safe", and there should be confidence instilled in them about the process.

The director of the hospital, Dr Suresh Kumar, said that the hospital is planning to launch its own plasma bank for which a plasma donation machine is set up inside the blood bank department.

The procedure in the hospital will be announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The facility will have two nursing staff, a resident doctor, two lab technicians and a counselor, he added.

"A green corridor is being constructed at LNJP Hospital for plasma donors, so that there will be no risk on the health of the people coming for donation," Dr Kumar said.

LNJP Hospital has a capacity to store plasma. Plasma can be used up to 24 hours under normal temperature and can be stored for up to 1 year if it is stored at a temperature of minus 40 degrees to minus 80 degrees.