Seven pvt hospitals now part of free dialysis scheme

New Delhi: With the aim of helping thousands of kidney patients struggling to get treatment, the Delhi government has tied up with seven private hospital for its free dialysis scheme.

These hospitals are Maharaja Agrasen Hospital in Punjabi Bagh, Park Hospital in Meera Bagh, Dharamshila Narayana Hospital in Dallupura, Brahm Shakti Hospital in Budh Vihar, Mata Chanan Devi Hospital in Janakpuri, Kalra Hospital in Kirti Nagar and MGS Hospital in West Punjabi Bagh. All these hospitals have a total of 101 dialysis machines, and below poverty line (BPL) residents of Delhi can avail free treatment here under the Delhi Arogya Kosh scheme.

In March, the Delhi government has announced installation of 60 dialysis machines in its hospitals, under public-private partnership model, which is under progress.

"There is a scarcity of dialysis facility at public hospitals. The poor, or even lower middle-class patients afflicted with kidney failure necessitating dialysis, cannot afford private facilities. The government scheme will help them," a Delhi government official said.

"These new machines will provide aid to those people who are in need of treatment but are sometimes ignored due to emergency cases. The waiting for the occupancy of the existing machines is too long," said Dr Kirti Bhushan, director general of health services, Delhi government.

He added that 90 more machines are being installed at Delhi government hospitals to provide dialysis treatment to patients, under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme.

Of these, five machines are operational at DDU Hospital and 10 at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital. The rest will be at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital (25), Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital (30), Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital (10) and Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital (10).