Background of The Problem
Kidney disease is one of the biggest killers in the world, with as many as 12 million adults in Pakistan suffering from kidney diseases.
The vast majority of patients starting haemodialysis die or stop treatment because of cost constraints within the first three months.
What is Dialysis?
Dialysis is the artificial process of getting rid of waste (diffusion) and unwanted water (ultra filtration) from the blood. This process is naturally done by our kidneys.
Why Dialysis Is Necessary ?
Approximately 1,500 liters of blood are filtered by a healthy person’s kidneys each day. We could not live if waste products were not removed from our kidneys. People whose kidneys either do not work properly or not at all experience a build-up of waste in their blood. Without dialysis the amount of waste products in the blood would increase and eventually reach levels that would cause coma and death.
When Dialysis Is Done ?
Some people may have failed or damaged kidneys which cannot carry out the function properly – they may need dialysis. In other words, dialysis is the artificial replacement for lost kidney function (renal replacement therapy). Dialysis may be used for people who have become ill and have acute kidney failure (temporary loss of kidney function), or for fairly stable patients who have permanently lost kidney function.
What Are The Causes Of Kidney Disease?
- Diabetes- thought to cause about half of all case
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) – thought to cause about one quarter of all cases
- Malaria
- Body’s own immune system attacks the kidneys
- Poly-cystic kidney disease – Inherited
- Physical injury, such as a heavy blow to the kidney
- Kidney infection(Pyelonephritis)
- Jaundice
- Over consumption of some medications
- Newly born baby does not normally developing kidneys
- Yellow fever
When Treatment is Necessary
Healthy kidneys clean the blood by removing excess fluid, minerals, and wastes. They also make hormones that remain one’s bones strong and keep blood healthy. When one’s kidneys fail, harmful wastes build up in the body, ultimately blood pressure may rise, and body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. When this happens then the person need treatment to replace the work of failed kidneys.
Dialysis Department of Hijaz Hospital
Established in: 2008
Dialysis Machines: Fresenius Dialysis Machines (Germany Made)
No of Machines: 29
No of Shifts in a Day: 3
Max No of Dialysis / Machine /Day: 3
Total No of Dialysis in a Day: 60
Staff: Nephrologists, 17 Dialysis Technicians
No of Dialysis done in 2021: 17,742
Registered Patients in Dialysis Department: 170
Female Patients: 65 (39 % of total Patients)
Male Patients: 105 (61% of Total Patients)
Dialysis Machines: Fresenius Dialysis Machines (Germany Made)
A numerous amount is being spent in this regard. In Year 2011, around Rs 58.3 Million spent for Dialysis Patients.
Admission in Dialysis Department:
Dialysis patients are approaching Hijaz Hospital rapidly because it is offering free exceptional dialysis services to poor & deserving patients and one-time dialysis cost is about Pk Rs 4,000 and there are patients who come twice in a week for dialysis. It means 8 times in a month.Patients come in Dialysis Department, simply write an application that they can not afford dialysis cost. Applications are scrutinized and they get admission on first come first serve basis.
- Written Application to Medical Superintendent
- Dialysis Department Checks the Availability of Machine
- Scrutinize of Application with Concerned Authority
- Approval of Application For Deserving Patients with absolutely No Charges
- Final Approval Laid by the President of Hijaz Hospital
We have already started 3rd shift in Dialysis Unit but still we have a significant number of applications of dialysis patients but we are unable to accommodate all of that due to insufficient capacity and momentous amount of running cost.