Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 6: To address the needs of dialysis patients, the Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla is set to upgrade its dialysis center, doubling the number of machines.
In this regard, the District Administration Baramulla has approved funding of Rs 1 crore, enabling an increase in both the number of beds and machines to accommodate more patients.
Medical Superintendent of the Associated Hospital Baramulla, Dr. Parvaiz Masoodi, told ‘Excelsior’ that there has been a growing demand for enhanced dialysis services due to the rising incidence of kidney diseases, especially among patients requiring regular dialysis.
“Under the CSR fund with NHPC, the District Administration has sanctioned the amount for upgrading the dialysis center, as we were struggling to meet the increasing dialysis needs,” he said.
Currently, the hospital operates eight dialysis machines, along with one machine dedicated to patients with Hepatitis-C. However, after the upgrade, the facility is expected to have double the number of machines, significantly expanding its capacity to serve more patients.
“At present, we lack a dialysis machine for Hepatitis-B patients, forcing them to travel to Srinagar for treatment. The addition of more machines will resolve this issue,” officials stated.
Dr. Masoodi further mentioned that the funds would be utilized to add 8-9 more dialysis machines and an RO plant, which is crucial for the process. “In total, we aim to have up to 16 machines, which will adequately address the growing demand,” he said.
The hospital authorities expressed gratitude to the district administration and NHPC Uri for recognizing the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney diseases and the critical role of a dialysis center.
“DC Baramulla has taken the initiative to provide funds for the establishment of the upgraded dialysis center at GMC Baramulla,” they added.
Notably, since the initiation of dialysis services at the Associated Hospital Baramulla in 2018, over 400 patients have benefited from the limited facilities available.
“Previously, we had to run dialysis in two shifts to accommodate more patients. The increase in machines will significantly ease the pressure,” Dr. Masoodi remarked.
Principal GMC Baramulla, Dr. Majid Jahangir, also highlighted the significance of the fund approval, calling it a boon for patient care amid the increasing demand for dialysis.
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