Only 19 COVID-19 survivors donated blood to PGH so far

After weeks of urging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors to donate blood, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has collected plasma from a total of 19 people.

PGH is the first hospital in the country to attempt convalescent plasma transfusion, one of the methods being used to treat COVID-19 patients with severe conditions.

In an online press briefing on Thursday, PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said 60 people have expressed intent to donate so far, but most of them were not able to push through due to several factors.

"One is the donor themselves they did not qualify because of our criteria. Some of them will probably qualify in a few days time," he said.

The PGH requires donors to be at least two weeks asymptomatic and fully recovered, among other criteria.

READ: Who can donate blood to COVID-19 patients?

Plasma from the blood of a recovered COVID-19 patient contains antibodies, proteins produced by the body to neutralize or destroy toxins or disease-carrying organisms.

When infused into a patient still battling the disease, it can potentially help fight the virus. It has been reportedly used in China and South Korea.

As of Thursday, 722 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the Philippines. However, Del Rosario said that there was "still an issue of the stigma of the disease."

"Even if we tell the public that they can help someone, the fear and anxiety of being discriminated is a little bit heaver on their side and they're not willing to come out yet," he said.

Del Rosario urged survivors to come forward and help save other patients while a medicine is not yet available.

A total of 462 people have died in the Philippines so far due to COVID-19. The country has 6,981 confirmed cases, one of the highest in Southeast Asia. —MGP, GMA News