Pilot project on peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients in Mangalore, Bangalore: U T Khader

Mangalore, Jan 26: Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader has said that the State government has decided to promote peritoneal dialysis as an alternative to haemodialysis for the benefit of the large number of kidney patients on a pilot basis at Wenlock Hospital in Mangalore and at K C General Hospital in Bangalore.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, he said that this is first of its kind in the State. While a kidney patient has to travel to a hospital depending on the requirement, to undergo haemodialysis, the peritoneal dialysis can be done at home with little care and the patient can work for his livelihood even after the dialysis. Twenty patients each from BPL family will be selected in Wenlock Hospital and K C General Hospital for the pilot project.

The patients will be provided the peritoneal dialysis kits and will be under go regular monitoring by the doctors. As a matter of caution, they will also have to undergo haemodialysis occasionally by visiting the doctor. A scientific evaluation will be conducted and thereafter the project will be extended in full scale.

The cost for haemodialysis is much higher than that of peritoneal dialysis. A haemodialysis machine has a limited patient-handling capacity, he added.

ID cards for endo victims

The Minister said that the procees of issuing identity cards for endosulfan victims commenced from Saturday. The process will continue till February 14. All those victims' names which were not included in the list, can submit their applications to the executive committee formed to look into the endosulfan victims, who will in turn forward it to the health department. The inclusion of names in the  list will be a continuous affair. The district health and family welfare department will sign MoU with speciality hospitals and medical colleges including KMC, Fr Muller Medical College, AJ Hospital and Research Centre, KSHEMA, Yenepoya Hospital and Medical, KVG Medical College to provide cashless medical care for endosulfan victims. The day care centres will get a physiotherapy unit and skill development centre shortly. The government has ordered to pay monthly pension of Rs 3,000 for those who are completely bed ridden and suffer from 75 per cent disability and Rs 2,000 per month for those who suffer from below 75 per cent disability, with effect from January 1.

To a query on scanning of pregnant women in endosulfan affected areas, Khader said that the State government has identified KS Hegde Hospital for the scanning. The scanning will be done during the health camps in the affected areas.