Dialysis centres to be set up under PPP mode in 14 govt hospitals

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11

Soon, 14 government hospitals in the state will have dialysis centres under the private-public partnership (PPP). Dialysis machines are meant for patients with kidney failures.

The Health Department has signed agreements with two private companies for opening the centres.

“Dialysis centres will come up in government hospitals of Panchkula, Sirsa, Gurgaon, Jind, Yamunanagar, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Panipat, Sonepat, Ambala Cantt, Hisar and Rewari,” said Health Minister Anil Vij.

A trial run has begun in General Hospital, Panchkula.

He said the centres would provide relief to patients who could not afford costly treatment in private hospitals.

“The dialysis will be free for the poor (below poverty line), while patients above poverty line (APL) will be charged nominal price,” the minister said. “The private companies will charge Rs 750 to Rs 950 per dialysis from APL patients,” said Dr Vijay Garg, Health Department Director.

The dialysis cost Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 in private hospitals, he said. Dialysis machines are available only in a few government medical colleges, including Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak.

“The dialysis centre in Panchkula is likely to start operations next week, and the ones in Sirsa, Jind and Gurgaon will be ready by the first week of October. The other 10 centres will be operational in two months,” Dr Garg said.

As per the agreement, the government will provide 2,000 to 2,500 square feet for the centres. The private companies will install machines and air-conditioners, and will provide staff.