FOR QUALITY MEDICARE: (From left) Patron H. Subash Krishna Ballal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education president Ramdas Pai and his wife Vasanthi Pai at the second annual Conference of Indian Society of Haemodialysis 2006 in Bangalore on Friday.
51; Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: Those responsible for the delivery of healthcare must ensure that medical facilities are accessible to all at an affordable cost, Ramdas Pai, president, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the second bi-annual conference of the Indian Society of Haemodialysis here on Friday.

He urged caregivers and pharmaceutical companies to work in unison to make sure that people in rural areas have access to quality healthcare. "The healthcare sector is diversifying into many specialities and it casts a great responsibility on doctors and others in the sector to make the best use of modern techniques and procedures. Such conferences play an important role in enabling the participants to pursue their profession with greater confidence," Dr. Pai said.

In his welcome address, H. Sudarshan Ballal, director of the Manipal Institute of Nephrology and Urology and chairman of the conference's organising committee, said haemodialysis has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years. The society was formed with the aim of providing continuing medical education and training in various aspects of haemodialysis.

Treatment expensive

Over one lakh people develop severe kidney problems annually and require long-term renal replacement therapy, either in the form of haemodialysis or transplantation. "Unfortunately, only five to 10 per cent of the patients get access to treatment, as it is phenomenally expensive. Moreover, 90 per cent of the nephrologists are based in urban areas. Patients in rural areas suffer due to lack of access to treatment and die a painful death," he said.

He suggested that a third party insurance company could be involved to make the treatment affordable. K.S. Chugh, president of the society, said the incidence of renal disease was increasing in the country.

National drive needed

He stressed the need for a national drive to check the disease. "Millions of people around the world are suffering from liver disease, which later progresses to renal failure. Diabetes and hypertension are the main causes for chronic renal failure. Haemodialysis should be made an affordable commodity with help of experts from the health sector and related fields," he said.

Thirty speakers will present papers at the two-day conference, which is being attended by over 450 delegates. Vasanthi Pai released a souvenir on the occasion. D.S. Rana, secretary of the society, submitted a report on haemodialysis.

K.K. Malhotra, president-elect of the society, and H.S. Ballal, Vice-Chancellor of MAHE, spoke. S. Kishore Babu, organising secretary, proposed a vote of thanks.

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