State to establish dialysis centres in all districts: CM

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Observing that kidney ailments are on the rise among Keralites, chief minister Oommen Chandy said on Sunday that the government is trying to set up dialysis centres in every district. The purpose – to provide affordable treatment to patients with kidney problems.

“We are currently deciding how to implement the project. We are examining the ways in which the health and the social welfare departments will tie up with various charitable institutions,” he said, soon after inaugurating the dialysis unit at the Ernakulam General Hospital.

He noted that the treatment process of kidney patients tends to continue for a long duration, which many families could not afford. The new dialysis unit at Ernakulam GH would help patients avail of the treatment for `100 (registration fee). A similar facility outside would cost around Rs2,000, he said.

The government would also take measures to avoid the current delay in patients getting funds under the Karunya benevolent scheme. Earlier, MLA Hibi Eden pointed out that the long-drawn-out procedures in the scheme often meant patients wouldn’t get the funds even after the treatment was over.

Karunya scheme is intended to provide financial assistance to underprivileged patients suffering from acute ailments like cancer, haemophilia, kidney and heart disease.