The UHS vice-chancellor Prof Javed Akram disclosed this while addressing a seminar on clinical outcome of the PMWO and Australian government collaborative plasmapheresis projects, here on Thursday. Australian High Commission in Pakistan Margaret Adamson was the chief guest of the occasion.
Australian High Commission Margaret Adamson appreciated the launching of 'Sehat Insaf Cards' by Prime Minister Imran Khan which would provide free health facility to around 80 million people. She hoped that a strong civil society would emerge which could play a pivotal role in bringing peace and prosperity in the country.
Margaret Adamson further said that the Australian government would continue to provide support to the people of Pakistan especially in the field of education and health.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Javed Akram thanked the Australian government for its generous contribution for the advancement of education and health projects in Pakistan. "It is a matter of great satisfaction to learn that Australian Aid has been providing significant financial assistance to the Pakistan Myasthenic Welfare Organisation (PMWO) for provision of advance healthcare facility of plasmapheresis in Pakistan through Plasmapheresis Excellence Centres in teaching hospitals," he said, adding: "Many precious lives have been saved through this treatment. This is a life-saving project for rapid clinical management of patients with a variety of disorders, including those of the immune system; these include life-threatening conditions like Myasthenia Gravis, GBS, CIDP, Polyneuropathy, and other medical disorders."
It may be noted that the Plasmapheresis is the removal, treatment, and return of (components of) blood plasma from blood circulation. It is a medical procedure performed outside the body. The method is also used during plasma donation: blood is removed from the body, blood cells and plasma are separated, the blood cells are returned while the plasma is collected and frozen to preserve it for eventual use in the manufacture of a variety of medications.
The president of PMWO, Dr Khalid Zia gave a presentation on plasmapheresis treatment in Pakistan. He said that plasmapheresis treatment cost Rs.65000 as compared to Rs.800,000 for conventional IVIG therapy.