Pvt centres yet to pitch in for dialysis of patients

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27

Private centres are yet to pitch in for the dialysis of Covid patients in Chandigarh despite the UT Administration’s August 19 order directing two such facilities to reserve two machines each for such patients.

Coronavirus patients with kidney failure can either go to the GMCH-32 or the PGIMER for dialysis, but these two government institutes are overworked according to doctors there.

The two designated private dialysis centres — Rahi Care Dialysis in Sector 22 and Dharam Hospital in Sector 15 — have cited infrastructural shortage for the delay in implementing the Administration’s order.

While the PGI has reserved three dialysis stations at its Covid hospital, the GMCH-32 has two. UT Health Secretary Arun Kumar Gupta said the PGI and the GMCH-32 dialysis units were being used for Covid and non-Covid patients to their optimum capacity. “Patients, who need maintenance dialysis, were earlier being dealt by private centres before Covid times. Why should they be denied dialysis if some of them are positive?” said Gupta.

Action would be taken under the Epidemic Diseases Act if the centres failed to comply, Gupta added.

Dr Pradeep Tayal, owner of Rahi Care Dialysis, confirmed they were not taking Covid patients. “As per the guidelines, there has to be a separate entry/exit for Covid patients. We have a single entry point,” he added.

Dr Ajay Aggarwal, owner of Dharam Hospital, said, “We were neither kept in the loop nor asked if we are prepared to cater to positive patients. There’s only one entry and exit point at my hospital. Also, designated staff and a place for Covid patients are required.”

“Government hospitals can increase machines for Covid patients. In the meantime, we can ready infrastructure at an alternative place,” he added.

The head, Nephrology Department, PGI, Dr HS Kohli, said they had 14 Covid patients as of Thursday, who required dialysis. Additionally, the department was performing around 1,200 dialysis sessions a month since June and had 19 machines for non-Covid patients, he added. Also, three mobile teams provided dialysis to critically ill patients in ICUs, he said.

A senior doctor at the GMCH-32, on the condition of anonymity, said neither the PGI nor the GMCH administered maintenance dialysis.