Visiting a clinic; sitting in a chair for three to four hours as blood passes through a machine that eliminates toxic products; all this three times a week. For people with failed kidneys, dialysis sessions can be exhausting, debilitating and often frustrating.

But for Lata Lalwani, the experience is not as traumatic. The 69-year-old chronic kidney patient's family has got a dialysis machine at their Khar residence which provides her a relaxing atmosphere while she receives the therapy.

"Being a hypertension and diabetes patient for a long time, she developed kidney complications and was put on dialysis last December. We went for home dialysis so that she feels at home and we don't have to wait for hours at the hospital for our turn," said Devanand, Lata's son.

Lata represents a new trend in health care where kidney patients undergo haemodialysis, considered the most common form of dialysis, at home.

"Unlike men, women need to bring along a relative for dialysis. This becomes difficult as both have to adjust their time to visit the hospital. Also, there is a long wait at the hospital," said Dr Rajesh Kumar, nephrologist at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital in Powai.

One needs a 100-sq ft room with an attached toilet and adequate supply of municipal water to set up a home haemodialysis unit. The machine and a reverse osmosis water purification system, another essential part, can be installed in about 4 days.

"Home hemodialysis is convenient for patients who are working and also for working family members of elderly patients. It is a boon for patients who are bedridden," said Dr Jatin Kothari, nephrologist from Hinduja hospital.

Despite the advantages, home hemodialysis is far from the reaches of the common man as a unit costs between Rs10 lakh and Rs12 lakh. There are some agencies that rent out machines for Rs15,000 a month, and for every cycle, they charge rates similar to fees set by hospitals. Their technicians visit patients for sessions and reach the report to the nephrologist concerned.

"Evidence from studies shows that patients receiving home haemodialysis live longer than those undergoing the therapy at a centre. There is also evidence that the quality of life of these patients is much better," said Dr Shrirang Bicchu, consulting nephrologist at Bombay hospital.

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