THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George said the state would expand the peritoneal dialysis scheme, which enables patients to undergo dialysis for free at home. The peritoneal dialysis program was started to alleviate the need to go to the hospital on alternate days.

Hemodialysis is given to about 40,000 patients every month in 92 hospitals. More than 10,000 dialysis sessions are being conducted through 10 medical colleges.

There are two types of dialysis. Hemodialysis is the process of purifying the blood by passing it through a dialysis machine. Peritoneal dialysis involves making a hole in the patient's abdomen, passing a catheter through it, and filling the abdomen (peritoneum) with peritoneal dialysis fluid. Once the catheter is inserted, the patient can fill the peritoneum with dialysis fluid at home. The waste products in the kidneys are absorbed into the peritoneal fluid. That fluid can be drained out.

Free of cost

The dialysis fluid, catheter and accessories required for peritoneal dialysis will be provided free of cost by the hospitals. The doctor treating the patient will decide if the patient can undergo peritoneal dialysis at home. A doctor has been appointed as the nodal officer in each district for the task of implementation.