Srinagar, Mar 19: Govt. Medical College Handwara is set to launch dialysis services soon, marking a step in strengthening healthcare access in north Kashmir, with authorities planning specialised staff training to ensure quality patient care.
Principal GMC Handwara, Prof. (Dr.) Khurshid Ahmad Wani, said that they will soon start the dialysis centre which comes under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) that provides cost-effective dialysis services to kidney patients at District Hospitals across India.
“The opening of dialysis facility here will strengthen healthcare access in the region. We are planning to train the nursing staff of GMC Handwara at GMC Baramulla after Eid for two weeks. They will receive training by senior trainers,” he said.
It will be an eight-bedded facility, with two sessions conducted daily, catering to around 16 patients a day, and is planned to function round the clock to ensure uninterrupted dialysis services.
“We have resident doctors in place round the clock. We have installed all the required machines for the eight beds and all the other requirements,” he said.
Officials said the new facility is expected to ease the burden on CHC Kupwara and GMC Baramulla. With this, GMC Handwara will become the third centre after GMC Baramulla and CHC Kupwara to provide dialysis services in North Kashmir.
As per doctors there has been a growing demand for enhanced dialysis services due to the rising incidence of kidney diseases, especially among patients requiring regular dialysis.
“Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperuricemia, chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause kidney diseases similarly fatty liver, infective pathologies like hepatitis B and C can lead to chronic liver disease,” said an expert.
Uncontrolled diabetes and uncontrolled hypertension can deteriorate kidney functions more quickly and severely in elderly populations. CKD is more commonly seen in patients with uncontrolled blood sugar levels and uncontrolled blood pressures due to tissue damage.
Dialysis facilities are specialized centers designed to provide life-sustaining treatment for individuals with late-stage chronic kidney disease (ESKD) or acute kidney failure. These provide specialized care, primarily hemodialysis, to filter toxins, waste products, and excess fluids from the blood when kidneys can no longer function effectively
