30 July 2010
Bangalore, India
Kalam Launches New Facility For Kidney Patients
On Thursday, he launched the first mobile dialysis facility in Bangalore launched by Manipal Hospital, which will deliver treatment at homes and provide the same dialysis infrastructure they receive in hospitals.
A study by Manipal Hospital and Harvard Medical School shows 10% of the adult population suffers from kidney ailments. Around 1.50 lakh to 2 lakh people suffer from end-stage disease, which has only two treatment options – kidney replacement or dialysis. Every patient needs to undergo 4-5 hours of dialysis thrice a day, costing around Rs 2,000 for every session.
Kalam suggested that Manipal Hospital open a preventive care department for kidney diseases, where the patient’s family is taught how to prevent further spread of the ailment. He urged the hospital to tie up with emergency services such as 108 ambulances, which can penetrate into rural areas and offer services to remote places.
He recollected a book written by a doctor and monk in Kathmandu that he recently read: ‘Medicine and Compassion’. “Generosity, ethics, tolerance, perseverance, concentration and intelligence are the most important qualities that every healthcare professional should adopt. Whenever a patient walks into a hospital, nurses, doctors and all the staff should receive him with a smile so that his faith in life is reinforced,”he said. He gave examples of two healthcare models – one in Tamil Nadu where entrepreneurs for the first time devised a facility where dialysis is offered at Rs 500 to at least 25 patients daily. He praised the healthcare model for tribal citizens that was started by Dr Sudarshan in B R Hills, where healthcare has been subsidized to a great extent. Only 3% of end-stage patients get the facility of kidney transplantation which costs Rs 4 lakh. “It’s a very costly disease. We should all try to prevent it by leading a healthy lifestyle like brisk walking, physical and mental exercise. We should launch a national campaign for kidney problems.”
MOBILE CENTRE
A mobile dialysis centre consists of clinical, technical and support staff, and is available 24/7 at 080-25204000. The cost of mobile dialysis is around Rs 2,500, depending on distance from the hospital.
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