Hyderabad: New method of dialysis to reduce time of treatment

Hyderabad: Treatment-time for patients with chronic kidney ailments undergoing dialysis is likely to be cut short following the Centre’s directive to states to introduce peritoneal dialysis service in government hospitals. Currently, government hospitals in Telangana are employing the hemodialysis method, which requires the patient to undergo a four-hour long session three times a week. Such lengthy procedures have seen several patients lose out on time to fulfil their other commitments owing to treatment.

Nearly 28,000 patients in the state suffer from chronic kidney diseases and are currently on dialysis with many more likely to develop chronic kidney ailments in the near future. Dialysis remains the second-best option for patients after kidney transplants, according to experts.

Compared to hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis is an overnight procedure and also cuts out risk of contracting blood-related infections. More importantly, peritoneal dialysis can be performed at the patient’s home. The process also cuts down on infrastructure and technical manpower compared to hemodialysis, according to the government’s letter calling for proposals in this regard.

“All states are requested to include peritoneal dialysis proposals under your respective National Health Mission (NHM) programme implementation plans,” says the letter recieved by the state health department. “ Since this component is to be implemented from this year, it is kindly requested to orient and train the dialysis units set up and being managed under the NHM, in this regard,” the letter adds.

For patients below poverty line, the service will be made available free of cost, as per the directive. The charges will be minimal for other patients. The directive also states that the introduction peritoneal dialysis will reduce travel-times to centres and will also allow greater flexibility and freedom in treatment schedules.