Nephrology patients left in the lurch

BURLA: Patients dependent on VSS-MCH for dialysis would now have to look for options. The water plant of dialysis has developed problems and one can only hope it is fixed at the earliest to meet the needs of the poor patients who flock to the hospital in hundreds daily. The turnout at nephrology department of the VSS-MCH here was around 4,000 new patients in April 2011. The number of old patients who required repeated treatment was around 6,000 and around 180 to 200 persons will be on dialysis in a month. The facility benefited the poor patients who could not afford costly treatment. The demand notwithstanding, the facility has been stopped since August 1 last year after remaining closed for about six months. There was a hue and cry which forced the Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, to direct Prof. Sashi Bhusan Rout and Dr. Chittaranjan Kar to attend to the patients in rotation. The arrangement continued for two weeks till Dr. Bibekananda Kar was appointed. He joined in December.However, the appointment of Dr. Kar has failed to benefit the poor patients much. Patients on condition of anonymity said the doctor is seldom available and even if one manages to meet him, he outrightly refuses admission of patients. He claimed that facilities were insufficient and staff are untrained, moreover there is no ICU.  Moreover, in the absence of a specialised centre for kidney ailments within 200 km radius of VSS Medical, the patients are worried. Principal of VSS Medical Dr. Santosh Kumar Behera said the water plant of dialysis has some problem and the manufacturer has been asked to repair it at the earliest. However, he admitted that Dr. Kar has been refusing to admit patients and informed that the State Government had been apprised of the fact. He refuted allegations that  the Department had no ICU facilities and the staff not capable of handling patients.Dr. Kar said he was out to get the water plant repaired and admitted that dialysis service was not being undertaken. Efforts are underway to resume dialysis, he added.