To help kidney patients undergo dialysis in the comfort of their homes, a Home Dialysis Treatment Centre under the State Government’s Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) project was inaugurated here in the Institute of Neuro Urology on the Victoria Hospital premises on Thursday.
Freedom Fighter H.S. Doreswamy inaugurated the centre on the occasion of World Kidney Day observed on second Thursday of March every year.
Patients with kidney related problems need to undergo dialysis at least thrice a week. With CAPD, they can do it at home and can get a check-up at the hospital once in three months, said Umesh L, HoD, Institute of Neuro Urology. While the pilot project was launched in November 2013, the process of initiating the patient in the treatment room was started on Thursday.
As part of the peritoneal dialysis, a filter tube will be surgically fitted in the patient’s abdomen and filled with a fluid required for dialysis. The fitting of the tube is being provided free of cost by suppliers on request, said Dr. Umesh. The hospital staff will provide training for the home dialysis for patients in the institute for about 15 days.
Under the Medical Education Department, the cost of treatment is borne by the patient as well as the State government. While one-third cost is undertaken by the patient, two-thirds will be borne by the government. The Health and Family Welfare Department, which has also undertaken the project, provides surgeries for free to BPL families at K.C. General Hospital in Bangalore and Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Doreswamy said that many people are being affected by kidney diseases making it a worldwide phenomenon. In-keeping with this year’s theme of ‘Aging and Kidney’ on World Kidney Day, the Institute of Nephro Urology is organising a free kidney screening camp for senior citizens.