PGI to have centre of excellence for kidney disease treatment

LUCKNOW: Patients battling kidney ailments now have hope, courtesy a 250-bed centre of excellence that is set to be established at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

The centre, meant specifically for the management of kidney diseases, is likely to come up within two years, as the state government has already sanctioned the ` 39-crore project. Moreover, the government has also released ` 1 crore so that work can be started in this f i scal year and is set to release more than half the total amount in the next financial year.

Officials said the building for the centre of excellence would come up in front of the new OPD building and land for the same had been marked by the PGI administration.

However, the institute authorities, sources said, are interested in awarding this project to a private player of international repute due to the poor track record of the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam.

Former PGI director and head of its nephrology depart- ment Prof RK Sharma said the need for centre was felt as the healthcare for kidney patients was very poor in the state. “Uttar Pradesh has around 5 lakh kidney patients, but over 80% of them don’t even undergo dialysis. Just 20% of affected patients are able to undergo dialysis, of which only 5% patients get the treatment regularly. For patients of rural areas, renal transplant is a distant dream as transplants are performed only in SGPGIMS and a few other hospitals of state,” he said.

He said PGI perfor med around 130 kidney transplants every year, bringing a total of 2,852 transplants so far.

Uttar Pradesh has around 5 lakh kidney patients, but over 80% of them don’t even undergo dialysis. Just 20% of affected patients are able to undergo dialysis, of which only 5% patients get the treatment regularly.

PROF RK SHARMA, Former PGI director and head of its nephrology dept