JOIN USShe was only 31 years old when she was diagnosed for renal failure, after five years of medication, she is under dialysis since then.
More and more patients of renal failure are opting for dialysis instead of a transplant and post surgery complications.
"I am happy to undergo dialysis for 13 times in a month. My husband is a auto driver and I have four children, I am able to manage my work at home. If I opt for a transplant, there could be more health complications," she says.
The Rangadore memorial hospital, Chamarajpet, a part of the Bangalore Kidney Foundation and has around 195 patients who undergo dialysis and 470 of them are waiting to undergo dialysis.
Post transplant has its own health complications, Dr Balakrishna, Head of Dialysis at the hospital said, “The medication given post transplant have to handled very carefully, the patient will be given immuno suppresants and will be very vulnerable to infections. The cost of these medicines also come at a high price.”
Sriram, Chairman of Bangalore Kidney Foundation says that most of their patients are from the lower middle class background and prefer dialysis to a transplant. “It is for the simple reason a a huge cost is involved. A renal transplant is expensive and has recurring expenditure post transplant. So patients prefer paying Rs. 500 per dialysis," he says.
Doctor advice
At the Institute of Nephro-Urology located at the Victoria Hospital, there are 700 odd patients undergoing dialysis and 300 of them waiting. Although doctors' say that transplant is always a better option for better quality of life, transplant is an expensive affair. "Transplant is always an option for dialysis, but most of our patients cannot afford the cost. Although government has sanctioned Rs one lakh for every transplant, the amount is not enough," said Dr Aashish, Assistant Professor at the Nephro-Urology Institute.
The Zonal Coordination Committee of Karnataka for Transplantation (ZCCK), the only network organisation in Karnataka which coordinates cadaver transplants across other networks in India. It has around 350 registered members waiting for a kidney donation.
Stressing on the need for a transplant for better quality of life, ZCCK, Secretary, Dr Ramesh says that the cost involved in dialysis for longer period is equal to post transplant expenditure. “The cost plays a very important role when it comes to a transplant, so does in dialysis unless the person is getting it done at a subsidised rates. But if cost was taken care of, every patient would opt for a transplant for better life. Even the government scheme for transplants are not helpful enough as the post transplant expenditure have to be taken care by the patient itself.” he said.