- The DOH warns illegal buyers of plasma.
- It is dangerous because it can cause illness to the receiver.
- The DOH also appealed to the public to continue donating blood.
The Department of Health (DOH) warns buyers of plasma for COVID-19 patients after reports surface that many are selling it at enormous prices.
According to Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, in addition to being illegal it can also cause illness to patients because plasma does not pass the standard of hospitals.
“We don’t want the blood to be sold or paid for, we want to screen patients before they can provide blood,” Vergeire said.
Recently, the sale of plasma by COVID-19 survivors amounted to P80,000. It is widespread in Central Visayas, which is now considered the ‘epicenter’ of coronavirus in the country. It is due to the increasing number of cases there.
The DOH also asked the public to donate blood. The supply of hospitals is close to the ‘critical level’ due to the increasing number of people infected with coronavirus.
“We are very challenged because we know that the acquisition or this voluntary blood donation program. We have had a slight decrease in donors because of the current situation we are facing,” Vergeire said in a radio interview.
Although there is still a supply in the Philippine Blood Center and other blood centers in the country, they do not want it to reach critical level.
“There’s still some left,” Vergeire said. “The only thing we don’t want is for us to reach a level where there is really nothing left.”
The DOH also appealed to local governments to help them continue to look for donors before there is a supply problem.
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The post DOH warns plasma buyers; This is illegal and the patient may become ill appeared first on Manila Papers.
Source: Manila Papers
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