Krishnagiri: Lack of dialysis machine keeps patients on the waiting list

Krishnagiri: With only a few dialysis machines in the government run health facility and in other private clinics, many patients have gone on the waiting list. With no data available, it is not known how many people are waiting for slots. It is clear that patients have to wait till one of the beneficiaries gets a transplantation or dies during the dialysis period.

“We have nine machines in our center. All our machines are full with the increase in the number of renal failure cases,” Dr.S. Vijayabhaskar of Cauvery hospital told Deccan Chronicle. He added, “Our hospital has 70 patients on the waiting list so far. The numbers will increase due to more cases reported at our center for dialysis.”

Vijayabhaskar thanked the Chief Minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme (CCHIS) for saving many lives. Without such a facility most poor patients would have preferred death than dialysis because of the financial burden. “Each renal failure patient is paid rupees 8,000 by the CM's comprehensive health insurance scheme (CCHIS) for eight dialysis,” Vijayabhaskar said. He said, “Though the payment given by the CCHIS is low, our hospital contributes the amount that is short because the patient has to bear other indirect costs like travel, food, loss of wages, both for the patient and for the companion.”

In the Hosur government hospital, a dialysis center was started recently with three machines. The center has so far completed 40 dialysis. A few more machines are to be installed in the center due to an increase in the number of cases after it was opened 28 days ago. But the center lacks facilities like doctors and other staff.

Without these facilities the center will not be useful to beneficiaries. The state should appoint a doctor and also the required staff for the dialysis center in the Hosur government hospital.