Telangana to launch free dilaysis services to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis patients

The State government has decided to launch free dialysis services to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis patients in Telangana. Exclusive dialysis centers for such patients will be established in the coming days at Hyderabad and Warangal, Health Minister, T Harish Rao here on Wednesday said.

The health department is making arrangements to set-up five beds each equipped with dialysis equipment for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis patients in Hyderabad and Warangal. In Hyderabad, such a facility is expected to come-up either at Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital (OGH) or NIMS, where the health department already operates free dialysis facilities for chronic kidney patients.

In a review meeting on Aarogyasri in Telangana, Health Minister, Harish Rao directed authorities to set-up the two facilities at the earliest. “Poor chronic kidney patients struggle a lot to raise funds to



undergo dialysis on a regular basis. That’s the reason why the State government has established 43 free dialysis facilities, which provides free dialysis facilities to 10,000 kidney patients across Telangana. Every year, the State government incurs an expenditure of Rs. 100 crore towards offering these facilities,” he said.

To further extend the dialysis facility, recently, Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao had directed the State health authorities to expand free dialysis facilities to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis patients. “We will ensure that HIV/AIDS and hepatitis patients do not have to wait for a long time at these dialysis facilities. Exclusive dialysis machines will be established for such patients,” Harish Rao said.

Senior health officials including Secretary, Health, SAM Rizvi, DCA Director, Preeti Meena, OSD, Dr Gangadhar and others were present.