Dialysis centres to be set up every 20-25 kilometres in Telangana, says Health Minister

Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha announced that the State government will ensure a dialysis centre is established every 20 to 25 kilometres, so that patients no longer have to travel long distances or endure prolonged waiting hours for life-saving treatment.

He said the objective is to make services accessible enough for patients to travel alone, receive treatment, and return home within a few hours.

The Minister made this statement during a review meeting held on Saturday to discuss the establishment of new dialysis centres. 

The Minister noted that when dialysis services were first launched in 2009, there were about 1,230 patients, but the number has now crossed 12,000 and is expected to rise further.

He expressed concern over the growing burden of kidney and cancer cases, pointing out that while infectious diseases were once the primary challenge for medical system, the current threat comes from lifestyle-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and cancers.

The Minister pointed out that kidney disease and cancer cannot be cured quickly, and hospitals must be prepared to provide long-term treatment.

He said dialysis patients face severe physical, mental, and financial hardships, and while pensions provide some relief, comprehensive medical support must be available closer to home, he said.

He instructed Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu to prepare proposals for setting up dialysis centres at regular intervals based on patient numbers, population, and distance, and to expand facilities at existing centres by adding more machines where required.

Currently, there are 102 dialysis centres across the State catering to approximately to 7,500 patients.