Hyderabad: A huge financial burden will be lifted from those undergoing regular dialysis thanks to the initiative of the central government to provide economically feasible dialysis centers in government hospitals.
Experts are happy with the National Dialysis Service Program to provide treatment through public-private-partnership as it will make it more accessible and also reduce the cost of the procedure.
Senior nephrologist at Gandhi Hospital Pradeep Deshpande said, “The NDSP program is based on the dialysis unit set up under Aarogyasri since 2009 by the united AP government. It is available at eight centers in Andhra Pradesh and seven centers in TS. Central Health ministry officials have taken guidelines from present practices that are being followed in Hyderabad. It is definitely a boon for the patients and will reduce their cost tremendously.”
Each dialysis costs Rs 15,000 and is a huge burden on the patient. A recent report by Lancet had shown that 70 per cent of Indian patients did not opt for dialysis due to the high costs.
Rooma Sinha, senior consultant gynecologist at Apollo Hospitals said, “This policy is going to help a large number of patients who otherwise get into a debt cycle to ensure that they are able to undergo dialysis.”
