Govt may include dialysis under Arogyasri scheme

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader has said that at present, eight diseases had been covered under the Arogyasri scheme and the government was now thinking of bringing dialysis treatment under its scope. 

Speaking after accepting dialysis machine donated by Mangalore Round Table -15 and Mangalore Ladies Circle-82, to Wenlock Hospital here on Saturday, he said that the decision to this effect will soon be taken. 

There is a plan to help chronic kidney patients to undergo dialysis under Arogyasri twice a week free of cost, he added. 

Initially, the scheme will be implemented at government hospitals and later it will also be extended to private hospitals. 

The government is planning to set up dialysis machines in taluk government hospitals. Accordingly, six machines will be installed at Puttur taluk hospital shortly. 

This will help patients from Puttur, Belthangady and Sullia to undergo dialysis. 

“A proposal has been submitted to the government for the setting up of a trauma care centre at Uppinangady and Sakleshpura. The centre will be attached to the community health centre.If any accidents take place in Shiradi Ghat, the patients have to be shifted either to Mangalore or Hassan for further treatment. The trauma care centre will help in saving the life of the patients,” he said. 

The Minister said that the State has written to the Union government to reconsider the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) order on making it compulsory for students who want to pursue Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery to have passed Urdu. 

In case if Urdu was compulsory, a subject can be introduced as a part of the course. 

MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik said that health care concern is a major issue across the globe. 

He promised to donate dialysis machines for five district hospitals that come under his jurisdiction. 

District Medical Officer Dr Rajeshwari said that the  Mangalore Round Table -15 and Mangalore Ladies Circle-82 is setting up a new dialysis ward at Wenlock Hospital.

A separate area of 1,450 square feet in the hospital has been allotted for the purpose. 

The Government Wenlock Hospital will get a superspeciality centre with 200 beds under National Urban Health Mission. 

The sate government's initiative to promote peritoneal dialysis as an alternative to haemodialysis has met with good success in Mangalore.

 As against the target of 20 patients, the District Wenlock Hospital here has prepared 12 persons for this procedure. 

This type of dialysis saves patients from the routine of having visiting to a dialysis clinic on a fixed schedule. This can be performed at the comfort of one’s home.