Mangaluru: The union government has come forward to officially implement free peritoneal dialysis facility at all the district hospitals under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme for those patients suffering from kidney failure. With this, the scheme which was implemented in Dakshina Kannada on an experimental basis and then stopped now has a hope of being restarted. The facility was created in 2016, and not the Health Ministry is planning to implement this at all the district hospitals in the country.

It was implemented in Mangaluru

In order to make it possible for poor patients to avail easy dialysis facility at their homes itself, U T Khader who was the Health Minister of the then Siddaramaiah led state government, created the plan of implementing peritoneal dialysis facility at government hospitals in 2014. On an experimental basis, the plan was implemented at Wenlock hospital in Mangaluru and K C General Hospital in Bengaluru. Peritoneal dialysis was primarily started in Mangaluru.

20 patients of the BPL division were selected and provided with the required equipment. The health co-coordinator visited the house of the patient and gave information and training to both, the patient and family members. The plan was to implement the project throughout the state after analyzing the result and status of the pilot project implemented at Mangaluru and Bengaluru. Scores of patients were waiting to take advantage of this facility. The government’s recognition was required for the pilot project to be continued. But, since there was no approval from the government, the scheme had to be stopped.

What is peritoneal dialysis?

Peritoneal dialysis is the method of dialysis wherein the patient does not require visiting the hospital, but instead can get the dialysis done at ones home by themselves. Firstly, the patient needs to visit the hospital and undergo a small surgery. A tube is installed in the abdomen region of the patient through which specific medicines are provided. Later, the patient can repeat this process at his very own home. They need to visit the hospital once in month for inspection. The Health coordinators are providing training to the patients regarding this process.

“Peritoneal dialysis was implemented at Wenlock hospital under the state government’s pilot project in 2014. 20 patients were selected and provided with the treatment facility and with the end of the term, the project came to a halt,” explained Dr Rajeshwari Devi, Medical Superintendent, Wenlock Hospital