Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh Inaugurates Dialysis Centres at Eight Government Hospitals Across the State

Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh Inaugurates Dialysis Centres at Eight Government Hospitals Across the State

Chandigarh/Patiala, September 25: In a major initiative aimed at enhancing healthcare facilities for kidney patients, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh inaugurated eight new Dialysis Centres at various government hospitals across the state. These centres, established with the support of the Hans Foundation, Dehradun, will offer free-of-cost dialysis services to patients. The inauguration, held at Mata Kaushalya Government Hospital in Patiala, was simultaneously streamed to the other seven centres located in Amritsar, Malerkotla, Moga, Goniana, Fazilka, Faridkot, and Jalandhar.

This significant move aligns with the Punjab Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, to bolster healthcare services for patients with chronic kidney diseases. The Health Minister emphasized that this groundbreaking collaboration with the Hans Foundation not only expands renal care but also aims to address both medical and financial challenges faced by kidney patients. The Hans Foundation will provide trained medical staff, dialysis machines, consumables, and RO plants, ensuring that these centres are well-equipped to meet patient needs.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Punjab Government, represented by Nodal Officer for the Dialysis Program Dr. Rupinder Singh Gill, and Hans Foundation Senior Manager Seema Singh earlier this year on February 27, 2024. As part of this agreement, the Hans Foundation will oversee the operation of these centres, ensuring high-quality treatment and efficient management of resources.

Dr. Balbir Singh announced that any patient, regardless of their location, can access these dialysis services using their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) ID, making renal care more accessible across the state. In addition to free dialysis treatments, patients will also receive necessary medications without charge, providing a holistic approach to treating kidney ailments. This initiative is expected to benefit thousands of needy patients and is part of the government’s larger plan to extend dialysis facilities to all government hospitals in Punjab.

The Health Minister highlighted that the root causes of most kidney failures—such as high blood pressure and diabetes—are being actively tackled through Punjab’s 872 Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have significantly improved the state’s primary healthcare system. Early diagnosis and free medications provided at these clinics are expected to reduce the prevalence of kidney disease in the coming years. Dr. Singh praised the Hans Foundation for its unwavering dedication to expanding healthcare services and pointed out that the state government prioritizes Public-NGO partnerships over Public-Private partnerships, as they deliver more direct benefits to the public.

Further expanding on the state’s healthcare plans, Dr. Balbir Singh revealed that all district hospitals in Punjab will soon be equipped with emergency services, NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Units), and ICU (Intensive Care Units) facilities. The state government is also encouraging NGOs to collaborate in both health and medical education sectors to ensure better healthcare services for the public. He noted that Punjab’s primary healthcare model and its Farishtey Scheme, which guarantees the last-mile delivery of essential medicines, were recently lauded at a global seminar in Nairobi, Kenya.

In total, 30 new dialysis machines were inaugurated on Wednesday, with six machines at MKH Patiala and three each at the other hospitals. One machine has been specifically allocated for HIV-positive patients. Currently, 39 hospitals in Punjab are equipped with dialysis facilities, and the state government aims to increase this number to 64 in the near future.

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