The Hindu : Front Page : Erode GH to get two dialysis machines

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Erode GH to get two dialysis machines

Karthik Madhavan

At present, the hospital sends patients to other hospitals
Each of the machines can dialyse seven patients a month

ERODE: Government Headquarters Hospital here will soon get a dialysis unit with two machines. Once that happens, the hospital, not attached to a medical college, will enjoy being the first in the state in its category to have such a facility. Patient Welfare Society, a registered society formed in February this year, has been instrumental in the hospital getting the distinction.

According to the hospital superintendent Dr. K.K.A. Hussain Ali, Sakthi Masala and SKM group of companies, using the Society as a platform, have sponsored the machines, each costing Rs. 6.5 lakh. Each of the machines has a capacity to dialysis seven patients a month. Patients suffering from chronic renal failure, acute renal failure and drug poisoning will stand to benefit.

At present, the hospital sends such patients to other hospitals. “Every day we receive one or two patients who are referred to government hospitals either in Salem or Coimbatore,” Dr. Ali said.

District Collector T. Udhayachandran, who is the Society’s chairman, said the hospital would be the first non-medical college hospital enjoying the facility. Echo-cardiogram, mammogram, upper GI endoscopy for treating cancer patients and C-arm operation table were in the offing. These would again be made possible through the Society, he said.

The Society, started in February this year under the National Rural Health Mission, is like any other welfare society. It has 43 members with the Collector as chairman, the hospital superintendent as member-secretary, the local MLA and MP as members along with a few in-patients and past patients.

It is not purely a private initiative. The Government too participates by providing the Society Rs. 5 lakh a year. Citizens too can donate either in cash or kind.

Dr. Ali said Canara Bank recently contributed money and Indian Bank and Bank of India gave 25 and 30 cots respectively. All donations to the Society, right since its inception, will soon enjoy tax exemption under 80G. The superintendent said the process for obtaining the exemption was almost through and the order was expected anytime soon.

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