Even as dengue has caused widespread panic among the public, the country's only government-run plasma fractionation centre at KEM hospital continues to remain defunct for over a decade now. Commissioned in 1989, the centre was the only such facility where blood could be split into eight components, including plasma and platelets.
In dengue, platelet count in a person's body goes down, weakening immunity. Since there is no medication available to cure the disease, it becomes imperative to improve the platelets level. But given the current dengue menace, city patients are already struggling to purchase platelets – which are short in supply.
The plasma fractionation centre would also use plasma to produce antibodies and proteins such as immunoglobulin and albumin. Add to this, a new plasma fractionation machine purchased by the corporation, is reportedly lying idle at Govandi's Shatabdi hospital since 2006.
An NCP delegation headed by party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Patil, group leader in the BMC Dhananjay Pisal, ex-group leader Ravindra Pawar and Kurla coporator Saeeda Khan, called on civic chief Sitaram Kunte seeking to make the centre operational.
An increasing number of patients are in need of platelets, and even as blood banks are either running short of stock, or are charging exorbitantly, it was imperative for the BMC to commission the centre, pointed out the NCP delegation.
"It is very important in the present condition that the BMC takes immediate steps to re-commission the centre. While dengue is creating panic, the BMC is impelled to purchase the plasma components from abroad, even though we have a centre of our own. This however, leads to doubts whether the civic body is doing so to splurge money," Pawar said.
Khan, a doctor herself, insisted that the BMC ensure the new fractionation set up at the Govandi hospital is put in service. She added: "Components are to be separated from blood within six hours, else you won't get the products. Given that blood banks operate for fewer hours, it is required for the centre to be functional, so that excess blood can be stored with the hospital. Since that is not happening, patients are suffering."
At present, Mumbai has only one centre that is owned by a private player.
While Kunte could not be reached for his version, a senior civic official wishing anonymity said, "A meeting is likely to be held to discuss and resolve the issue soon."
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