Separate dialysis unit for Covid patients with kidney ailments at GMC

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 23

In view of the problems being faced by the health authorities in providing dialysis to Covid-19 patients with co-morbidity of acute kidney disease, a separate unit has been set up at Government Medical College here.

Earlier, the hospital authorities were facing problems since Covid-19 positive patients requiring dialysis could not be taken to the general dialysis unit as it could have resulted in infecting the entire area.

“A significant number of Covid-19 deaths in the recent times were those of patients with acute kidney disease. Patients with co-morbid conditions are considered high-risk patients,” said a faculty member at the college.

The college officials said the new dialysis facility for Covid patients would help in decreasing the mortality rate. With over 3,200 positive cases and 125 deaths so far, the district has reported a mortality rate of 3.90 per cent. The high mortality rate in the district has been a cause for concern for the health authorities and efforts were being made to reduce it, health officials said.

They said apart from acute kidney disease patients, maximum Covid deaths have occurred in cases with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Earlier, after a review of the treatment facilities, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, who is also the in charge of Covid treatment, had asked the hospital authorities to set up a separate dialysis unit for Covid patients with kidney disease.

Meanwhile, Medical Education and Research Minister Om Parkash Soni said total 2,78,064 people have been tested for Covid-19 at the Government Medical College. He said of the total coronavirus related deaths in the state, only 431 have occurred at the three government medical colleges in state.