Peritoneal dialysis fluid shortage in Kerala's govt hospitals; Kidney patients bear brunt

KOZHIKODE: Fluid for home peritoneal dialysis has been out of stock for months in most government hospitals. It is not available in the hospitals of Kozhikode district. Patients mostly suffering kidney-related ailments are affected by this shortage of fluids, which the government used to provide them for free.

Due to this, patients including children and the elderly are lining up in front of hospitals for hours to get their dialysis done. Fluids are available in the market but are sold at a heavy price, not easily affordable for commoners.

The project was started in 2022 to aid Kidney patients to cut short their travel to the hospital and conduct dialysis at their own home instead. A catheter is inserted through a hole in the abdomen to fill the peritoneum with dialysis fluid. In due time, the waste in the kidneys will be absorbed by the fluid. The liquid can then be drained out. Once the catheter is inserted, the patient's relatives can perform dialysis at home. Hemodialysis is the process of filtering blood through a machine.

• Uncontrolled blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of kidney disease

• One in three people over the age of 18 have high blood pressure and one in five have diabetes

Peritoneal Dialysis patients

• 2020 - 43,740

• 2021 - 91,759

• 2022 - 1,30633

• 2023 - 1,93,281