Public hospital starts free kidney dialysis treatment

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) performed its first haemodialysis treatment on Wednesday on one of three machines that were donated to the institution.

The three dialysis machines, some components of the water system and some specialized consumables were all donated and installed by the Doobay Medical Centre team at the GPHC’s Dialysis Centre.

The first patient receiving haemodialysis treatment at the GPHC’s Dialysis Centre.

Persons suffering from renal failure can now access dialysis treatment free of cost from Mondays to Saturdays at the Dialysis Centre. Two trained nurses will be stationed at the Centre to operate the machines.

Dialysis treatment usually costs about $26,000 per session. The new service at the GPHC provides an alternative to patients who usually travel to the Doobay Centre at Annandale, East Coast Demerara for treatment.

Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the services offered at the Dialysis Centre will serve as a basis for restarting kidney transplant operations at the GPHC.