Manipal Hospital launches free dialysis scheme for poor

Bangalore, Mar 8 (UNI) Manipal Hospital, a subsidiary of Manipal Health Systems, celebrated the World Kidney Day today by launching a free dialysis scheme for the economically weaker sections of the society in commemoration of one of its patients - Mrs Prema Devi Malimath.

Launching the 'Mrs Prema Devi Malimath Memorial Free Dialysis Scheme' at the hospital here, Karnataka Lok Ayukta Mr Justice Santhosh Hegde lauded the hospital authorities for starting such a scheme for the people who could not afford the costly dialysis.

The Lok Ayukta, who had pledged to donate his eyes, called for encouraging organ donation. Urging both the Union and State Governments to frame a law to facilitate organ donation for the cause of medical development, he called for including the concept in school curriculum for creating more awareness among the youth.

Manipal Health Systems MD and CEO R Basil said the hospital had decided to launch the scheme as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. Under the scheme, every day one poor patient would be provided dialysis free of cost.

The hospital also launched 'Sponsor a Dialysis patient scheme', an initiative to involve the coporate sector and the affluent classes in the free delivery of life critical kidney treatment to the poor.

Manipal Institute of Nephrology and Urology Director Dr H S Ballal said Kidney disease was becoming an epidemic all over the world, more so in developing countries. According to the International Society for Nephrology, an estimated 36 million people would die of kidney related disorders by 2050 globally. Every day, over 600 people die of renal failure in the country and as many as 25 people per hour, he noted.

Former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala High Courts Mr Justice V S Malimath, on whose wife's memory the free dialysis scheme was launched, underlined the need for creating more awareness about kidney related diseases.

UNI