NEW DELHI: In good news for patients suffering from chronic kidney disease, the NCT government has told the Supreme Court that it was planning to more than double the number of dialysis machines in hospitals to cater to growing number of kidney patients in the national capital. There are at present only 33 dialysis machines operating in Delhi government run hospitals but the government has assured the court that 50 more machines would be set up under Public Private Partnership(PPP) mode. In an affidavit filed by secretary of health and family welfare, the government said that poor patients would be able get free of cost treatment at PPP dialysis centre.

"The patients from economically weaker section in Delhi having less than Rs 3 lakh of per annum income would receive free of cost dialysis, within the prescribed amount, at PPP dialysis centres along with EPO injections under Delhi Arogyakosh scheme of the government," the affidavit said. The affidavit was filed in compliance with court`s order seeking response from the Centre and all states on why dialysis units be not set up in each district. The court had issued notice to governments on a PIL filed by advocate Sanjeeb Panigrahi seeking its direction to set up more dialysis unit in hospitals.

It said that 30 machines would be set up in Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital and 20 in Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan. The government said that 10 machines were successfully operating under PPP mode in Lok Nayak Hospital. "Besides dialysis centres under PPP mode, eligible patients are also referred to private hospitals for free of cost dialysis services under Delhi Arogyakosh scheme.

Also under 10% free quota for poor patients, private hospitals concerned are asked to provide free dialysis to eligible patients," it said. Panigrahi told the court that as per estimates of Union health ministry, the country needs at least 50,000 dialysis machines but it has 20% of the requirement. He said number of kidney patients were rising in the country and sought a direction to the states to initiate steps to prevent incidents of kidney failure and related renal diseases by having at least one dialysis centre in each district throughout the country.

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