Gandhinagar: Bringing-in relief to thousands of dialysis patients, Ahmedabad-based Institute of Kidney Diseases & Research Centre (IKDRC) on Monday unveiled a pan-Gujarat integrated dialysis network ‘One Gujarat-One Dialysis’ to offer free quality dialysis services to anyone, anywhere in the state.

Under the plan every patient can access free quality dialysis anywhere at any of the 79 GDP centres spread across Gujarat surmounting locational barriers to get dialyzed continuously at a single location. Once a patient gets registered with any of the GDP centre in the state, the medical history and dialysis timelines could be accessed online at any of the other GDP centres. The patient in need to access dialysis services at any of the GDP dialysis centre other than his/her native centre just have to book a dialysis session slot by quoting unique identification number over a call.

“One Gujarat-One Dialysis’ gives freedom of choice to get dialysed at any of the GDP centres in state with increased mobility to every patient in need of dialysis,” Dr Vineet Mishra, Director, IKDRC-ITS told a gathering of mediapersons on Monday on the occasion of World Kidney Day 2022. Normally, hemodialysis patients are confined to a particular dialysis centre due to proximity to their residence but acquaintance with the technical staff. “Now dialysis patients have a choice and liberty to move around anywhere in the state and simultaneously maintain their kidney health at any of the 79 GDP centres in state,” Dr Mishra said.

“We have significant presence in cities, rural and tribal areas and firmed up plans to commission 50 new onshore GDP centres along the vast coastline of Gujarat,” Dr Mishra announced while sharing details of the pan-Gujarat network of GDP centres under ‘One Gujarat, One Dialysis’. He elaborated that a sizeable population of Gujarat lives along state’s coastline but those in need of dialysis were unable to access dialysis services due to far-off inland locations. “Coastal GDP centres will be the first port-of-call for ESRD patients living along the coastline,” informed Dr Mishra.

IKDRC has also drawn up its plan to add a fleet of 33 mobile dialysis vans for every district to serve patients undergoing treatment in ICUs sans dialysis facility. “There is a fatality rate of 20 % if patients on ventilatory support are shifted on wheels for advance procedures but henceforth mobile dialysis vans will offer on the spot dialysis to patients admitted at any medical facility in the state,” elaborated Dr Mishra.

Through its network of 79 GDP centres in every district of Gujarat, GDP claims to be the largest governmental network of free dialysis centres in the world. It will add 50 coastal centres by the end of financial year 2023. Powered by IKDRC, GDP centres equipped with 500 machines perform approximately 30,000 dialysis a month. With a staff strength of 400 technicians including ancillary staff trained by IKDRC, GDP since 2010 performs dialysis at no cost to visiting patients irrespective of their socio-economic background.

The Fairfax India Charitable Foundation, focused on improving dialysis access across the country under Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), extended its support to Gujarat Dialysis Programme by offering 96 dialysis machines at 27 centres through generous donations from ICICI Foundation.