Kidney patients suffering in Tanahun as dialysis machines go out of operation

By Our Correspondent,Tanahun, June 12: Only six of the 11 dialysis machines in the Kidney Treatment Centre of the Damauli Hospital are now in operation. After five machines went out of operation, the kidney patients have been unable to get services easily. Out of the five dialysis machines that were put into operation after the repair, two stopped working again within 24 hours of repair.

According to the centre, Damauli Hospital does not have enough dialysis equipment, and the patients must wait for treatment after five of the machines went dysfunctional.

The kidney patients have been facing problems after eight machines broke down one and a half months ago. The patients and their relatives asked the hospital management to repair the broken machines. Then the hospital repaired five of the eight damaged machines and put them into operation on Friday. They felt some relief after five machines were placed back into service.  

The patients had felt relief after the hospital managed to repair five of the eight damaged machines, but two of them got damaged within 24-hours after they were fixed. 

Prem Gurung, a staff member at the facility, informed that the National Kidney Treatment Centre's technical team fixed the broken equipment. But two of them malfunctioned the next day. 

He said that only six of the 11 machines are now in operation. The dialysis equipment was  fixed, but the centre reported that two units failed the next day.  

Currently, 49 patients are undergoing kidney dialysis regularly at the centre. The hospital has been providing dialysis to the patients in four shifts. Still, 24 new patients are waiting for their turn without being able to undergo dialysis, said Gurung. 

Gurung Said, "The number of patients who had to wait for their turn can be reduced if all the machines are put into operation." 

The number of kidney patients in the centre is increasing. The patients had to undergo ordeals in lack of treatment equipment and skilled manpower. 

Ganesh Malla of Bhanu Municipality-10, who is a kidney patient, said that he had to run away from the Damauli Hospital because he was not getting proper care.

Malla said, "I applied to get service from Damauli Hospital, but it is very sad to say that it is not possible after the machines broke." 

According to Devendra Thapa, Chairman of Damauli Hospital Management Committee, the equipment was brought back into operation in coordination with the Executive Director of the National Kidney Treatment Centre Dr. Rishi Kafle.

He added that a fresh demand was made because the machines needed to be fixed frequently because they were old. 

Shailendra Pandit, head of the centre, informed that the new patients will get service only if the old kidney patients, who are undergoing dialysis at the treatment centre, undergo a kidney transplant or transfer to another place. 

Pandit said, "Only if the place is free, the new patients will be given a chance, whether they have to undergo a kidney transplant or they can only be given services if they transfer to another district."

The dialysis unit has been in operation in the hospital since November 2015. 

In addition to Tanahun, kidney patients from neighbouring districts are also receiving dialysis services at the centre. Health Care Foundation of Nepal established the dialysis centre at Damauli Hospital. Manju Upadhyay, in memory of her late husband Shatrudhan Upadhyay, initially donated Rs. 2.5 million for the centre.