Dialysis Services Not Easily Accessible for Kidney Patients in Sudurpaschim

Mahendranagar: Kidney patients in six of the nine districts of Sudurpaschim Province still lack access to dialysis services. Among the region's seven hill districts, only Dadeldhura Hospital operates a five-bed dialysis unit; patients in the other six districts are compelled to travel elsewhere for treatment.

The hospital reports that 30 patients are currently receiving dialysis services at the five-bed facility in Dadeldhura. Kidney patients from the hill districts are forced to travel to Dhangadhi (Kailali), Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur), or even hospitals in India for treatment.

Although dialysis services exist in two Terai districts and Dadeldhura, the overwhelming patient load makes it difficult for individuals to access care easily. While Seti Provincial Hospital (Kailali), Mahakali Provincial Hospital (Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur), and Tikapur Provincial Hospital provide dialysis services, patients often face months-long waits for treatment.

Government and private hospitals in the region provide a total of 46 dialysis beds. Seti Provincial Hospital operates 21 beds, Mahakali and Tikapur hospitals have 10 beds each, and a private hospital in Dhangadhi operates 10 beds. Dadeldhura Hospital, which falls under the federal government, has five beds.

Preparations are underway to provide dialysis services at Doti District Hospital, but the service is not yet operational. Narad Prasad Bhatta, the Information Officer at Doti District Hospital, stated that providing dialysis services is currently difficult due to a lack of adequate physical infrastructure. He noted that the Department of Health Services has provided three dialysis machines to the hospital.

"Construction of the hospital's new building is in its final stages," Bhatta said. "One staff member has already received training for dialysis operations. We will launch the service here as soon as the building is handed over."

Although the Sudurpaschim Provincial Government has initiated steps to facilitate the provision of dialysis services, patients still face situations where they must wait or rely on personal connections to access treatment. Immediately after assuming office, Chief Minister Khagaraj Bhatta made a key decision to increase the number of kidney dialysis beds in provincial hospitals and expand the service to the region's hilly districts.

A meeting of the Provincial Council of Ministers held on Shrawan 29 decided to add five dialysis beds at Seti Provincial Hospital, four at Mahakali Hospital, and three at Tikapur Hospital. Additionally, decisions were made to add five beds at Lamkichuha Provincial Hospital in Kailali, two each at Bayalpata Provincial Hospital in Achham and Jogbudha Provincial Hospital, and two beds at district hospitals across the hilly districts.

Kishor Shrestha, the Information Officer at Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, reported that 210 kidney patients are currently receiving dialysis services at the facility. "Fifteen patients are compelled to wait for services daily," he said, noting that between 15 and 20 patients receive treatment each day. In the private sector, Navajeevan Hospital in Dhangadhi is currently providing dialysis services with a 10-bed capacity. Meanwhile, Dr. Sandip Okheda, Chief of Bajhang District Hospital, noted that kidney patients from Bajhang requiring dialysis often have to travel to Dhangadhi for treatment.

"We have both the physical infrastructure and the trained manpower to provide the service within the district itself," he said. "To my knowledge, about 8 to 10 patients are currently undergoing dialysis in Dhangadhi." He emphasized the need to take initiatives to provide this service locally.

Similarly, Indra Saud, a member of the management committee at Mahakali Provincial Hospital in Mahendranagar, reported a high patient load. "We plan to provide services in three shifts—morning, evening, and night—very soon," he said. "However, we haven't been able to expand services in line with the patient volume; between 20 and 25 patients come to Mahakali Hospital daily for dialysis."

Dr. Khagendra Bam, Director of the Sudurpaschim Province Health Directorate, stated that dialysis services for kidney patients could be operated in hospitals located in the hill districts. "There would be no issue in running dialysis services at district hospitals if skilled manpower and necessary equipment are available," he said. "Expanding these services requires collaboration among all three tiers of government—from constructing physical infrastructure to managing the workforce."