New Delhi: The Delhi government has proposed installation of around 150 dialysis machines in six different hospitals across Delhi to provide the facility of dialysis to poor patients who cannot afford it.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, “Our target is to install 150 dialysis machines in six different hospitals in various parts of Delhi. We are starting off with ten machines in LNJP hospital but will plan out if more is needed.”
The government plans to provide relief to poor people who fall under the Economically Weak Section (EWS) or whose yearly income is below Rs three lakh, Dikshit said after inaugurating ten dialysis machines at the LNJP hospital today.
Delhi Health minister A K Walia noted that in Delhi, around 10-12 per cent people suffer from diabetes and 18 per cent or more suffer from hypertension “which is why kidney problems amongst people are on the rise. These people then need dialysis.”
He went on to add that such patients need at least two dialysis per week and the cost comes between Rs 3,000-4000 apart from other medicines.
The government said that it would provide free dialysis facilities to the poor as the funds would be released through Delhi Arogya Kosh for this purpose.
The other patients would be charged only Rs 1,073 for dialysis whereas the rates being charged in private hospitals is hovering around Rs 3000, officials said.
The Delhi Chief Minister had come out with a “Rogi Kalyan fund/Samiti” in which poor people who cannot afford dialysis are given this facility by the government and up to Rs 3 lakhs is covered.
Under this, the cost of dialysis of poor people who cannot afford it will be borne by the government, the minister said. “In Delhi there are around 70-100 dialysis machines available in government hospitals and in private sector there are around 500.
“Therefore we have around 600 machines available. But our requirement is around 1,200,” said Walia.
The ten dialysis machines installed in LNJP hospital will work for 16 hours. These machines have been installed on a PPP mode.
Aseem Garg, MD DCDC Kidney Care which was hired to install the machines, said,”This centre will be an experience for the patients who will witness a very high level of service in any government owned facility in the country.
