Half of COVID-19 patients administered with plasma treatment recover fast, PGH spox says

Around 50% of COVID-19 patients who received convalescent plasma showed speedy recovery, the spokesperson of Philippine General Hospital said on Thursday.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, PGH spokesperson Jonas del Rosario said the health facility is now conducting a clinical trial for convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19.

“Yung aming pong initial experience kasi nung una, compassionate use po ang tawag dun, binibigay namin sa severely to critically ill,” he said.

“Mga 50 percent ng nabigyan namin—we gave 30 convalescent plasma, tapos 'yung iba po, pinamigay namin sa ibang hospital—mga kalahati po ng mga pasyente doon mabilis na gumagaling,” he added.

Del Rosario said the treatment is more effective when administered to patients before their condition worsens.

As they continue with the clinical trial, Del Rosario said PGH will also give plasma treatment to moderate COVID-19 cases.

“Ngayon meron kaming clinical trial na na-approve na, na ibibigay namin kahit hindi severely ill kahit moderate pa lang. Ibibigay na namin 'yung convalescent plasma para hindi na sila mag-detiorate,” he said.

However, the PGH is short on convalescent plasma supply. According to Del Rosario, the hospital currently has only two bags of plasma.

Due to this, Del Rosario encouraged COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma to help current patients to recover. For those who are willing to donate, they can contact the PGH through their hotline 155-200.

He earlier said some survivors do not want to go back to the hospital due to the fear of catching the virus again, but he noted that the blood donation will be done at  a private place, not in the hospital. — RSJ, GMA News