NEW DELHI, Apr 28: With the plasma therapy gaining a lot of traction as a possible cure for Coronavirus, the Union Health Ministry today clarified that it is at an experimental stage and there is no evidence yet to support that it can be used as treatment for COVID-19.
Till the effectiveness of this mode of treatment is scientifically proven, its application except for research and clinical trial is illegal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Lav Agarwal said.
Addressing the daily briefing to provide updates on COVID-19 situation in the country, Agarwal said currently there are no approved therapies for Coronavirus and there is not enough evidence to claim that plasma therapy can be used for treatment of the deadly disease.
The official also said that 17 districts in the country which earlier had cases, have not reported any fresh case of COVID-19 in the last 28 days.
Elaborating on the plasma therapy, Agarwal said that currently there are no approved therapies for Coronavirus infection and there is not enough evidence to claim that plasma therapy can be used for treatment of the deadly disease.
“ICMR has launched a national-level study to find out the efficacy of plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID-19,” he said.
“Till ICMR concludes its study and a robust scientific proof is available, plasma therapy should be used only for research or trial purpose. If plasma therapy is not used in a proper manner under the proper guidelines, then it can also cause life threatening complications,” said Agarwal.(PTI)
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