K'pong hospital to now have a dialysis unit

NISHA CHETTRI, SNS, KALIMPONG, 11 FEBRUARY 2019: After the CT scan and MRI machines were made functional, the Kalimpong District Hospital is gearing up to start the much-needed dialysis facility for kidney patients.

According to hospital sources, a high- power state team (technical) had visited the hospital in December 2017 and had given a go-ahead to the dialysis plans.

"I lHowever, the main hindrance in the way is lack of water for the dialysis unit to function," the sources said.

Kalimpong is already a place that often reels under acute water shortage, especially during the summers. However, the superintendent of the

District Hospital later said they have received a consent letter from the PHE department of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for regular water supply for the dialysis unit.

People in the town expressed happiness at such a project, as they said patients will not have to go down to the plains to have the dialysis, which is the trend so far.

"It takes around 12,000 liters of water per day for a 46 bed dialysis unit to function at the beginning. We, however have an assurance from the PHE, on the adequate supply of water," the superintendent Dr_Ankan Simlandi, said. "The infrastructure for the water to be brought to the hospital must be built now," he added,

An estimate has already been submitted to the state for the water plan, which may cost around Rs 34 lakh, which, according to Dr Simlandi, the state has already agreed upon. Asked about the total expenditure of the unit, the superintendent said that there will be several parts that will have different expenses.

However, another hospital source later said that the total expenditure for the project could come to between Rs 60 and 70 lakhs. The dialysis center will be created in the existing rooms of the hospital, opposite the High Dependency Unit (HDU),it is learnt.

People in the town expressed happiness at such a project, as they said patients will not have to go down to the plains to have the dialysis, which is the trend so far.

"There was a time when Kalimpong lacked most of the things. Now we have everything, from the ,MRI to the CT scan. Dialysis unit is another development and this is very good news.We don't have to travel anywhere during a medical emergency now,' said Rahul Rai from Ecchay, as he returned home from the Hospital today.