Delhi HC directs Government to consider as representation a plea to make plasma donation mandatory for recovered COVID-19 patients

The Delhi High Court today directed Centre and Delhi Government to consider as representation a petition which sought directions to make plasma donation mandatory for patients who have recovered from COVID-19. (Piyush Gupta vs UOI & Ors).The order was passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan in a petition preferred by Advocate Piyush Gupta. .It was the Petitioner's case submitted that plasma therapy could not be used to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms but could also be helpful in preventing moderately ill patients from becoming sicker. .Even the Delhi Health Minister, Satyendra Jain received plasma therapy to help him recover from COVID-19, the Petitioner informed the Court through his petition. .It was added that plasma from recovered patients could be used to immunize those as high risk of getting infected with the virus. .However, patients who recover from COVID-19 never return to hospitals for donating plasma due to social stigma, the Petitioner apprehended. .Asserting that due to the insufficient availability of plasma, a black market for plasma was now flourishing, the Petitioner prayed for issuance of rules to make it mandatory for all recovered patients to donate plasma. .The Petitioner suggested that the Central Government may constitute a "Statutory Committee" to monitor the data on all persons who get infected with the virus and to facilitate plasma donation by formulating the relevant rules and opening a "Plasma Bank"..After hearing the Petitioner, the Court questioned if a person could be forced into donating his blood plasma. .The Court stated that a plasma bank had already been inaugurated in the city by the Delhi Government and persons could only be encouraged to donate their plasma after recovery from COVID-19. .After the Petitioner stated that the suggestions mentioned in his petition may be considered by the Government, the Court directed the Centre and Delhi Government to consider the same as a representation. .Senior Advocate Rakesh Tikoo appeared for Petitioner-in-person Piyush Gupta with Advocate Kapil Goel.