Health Ministry to assist 200 with kidney failure

The Ministry will be paying $700,000 monthly from its medical aid fund to subsidise the cost to patients chosen from the waiting list.

Speaking at the launch of the peritoneal programme at Ampitheatre C Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex yesterday, Health Minister John Rahael said the provision of PD is part of the expansion of service to give patients an additional choice.

PD involves using the lining of the abdomen—peritoneal membrane, to filter blood. A dialysis solution comprising minerals and sugar dissolved in water are passed through a tube into the abdomen and the sugar draws waste, toxins and extra water from the peritoneal membrane into the dialysis solution. This is then drained from the abdomen. The procedure is done three times daily.

Dr Neil Bhagwandass, of San Fernando General Hospital earlier told the audience that the current waiting list for people in need of dialysis was between 200-300 with new patients being added regularly. But not everyone was on the waiting lists. Bhagwandass said patients were dying daily because of a lack of dialysis.

Rahael said, "PD has the additional advantages for patients of savings on cost, time and at the same time, improving the comfort of patients in accessing health care." Rahael said haemodialysis can cost as much as $8,000 per month. Rahael said selected patients can do their dialysis at home and administer care while sleeping.

"They do not lose work time or other value added time of doing the things they enjoy."

Apart from being able to have an independent lifestyle, he said PD is favoured for patients with cardiac conditions who cannot have haemodialysis and hypertensive and diabetic patients can have a reduction in their prescribed medications.

Managing Director of Bryden Pi Ltd Norman Tang said it was up to the nephrologist to decide if haemodialysis or PD was suitable for the patient.

He said the PD programme was a "model" of business and private sector working together bringing together the resources of the Ministry and Bryden. Tang said the Ministry would be providing centres at PoS, EWMSC and SFGH where patients doing PD could be seen and monitored by doctors. The Ministry through the National Property Insurance Development Company will supply the bags and other apparatus used for PD. "We are going to bring the clinical and operational protocols. You can’t just give a patient a bag and tell them this is how to use it and send them off. You are going to get high levels of infection and problems."

Bryden will provide the training and expertise to nurses dealing with patients, and do home visits to ensure sanitation level is right and they are following procedures.

Tenders have gone out for a company to supply the consumables for the PD programme (bags etc) and the award is expected to be announced at the end of September. Until then Nipdec has already stocked a supply for the programme to get started.