BMC to increase number of affordable dialysis beds

MUMBAI: On Friday, the BMC will inaugurate an eight-bed dialysis unit, set up under public-private partnership, at its Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli. The number of dialysis bed with the public health provider will go up to 67 in a year. 

"A gap analysis last year showed there is crisis of dialysis units in public hospitals,'' said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner. In 2012, the BMC commissioned 40 dialysis beds and conducted 20,000 dialysis cycles at Rs 350 each. This year, the BMC has performed 25,000 dialysis cycles so far. "We hope to touch the 30,000-mark by the end of the year," she said. 

The BMC plans to set up over 250 dialysis beds in the next couple of years using the PPP model. The BMC will provide space to charitable trusts that will build and operate the centres. An official said the BMC would increase its dialysis beds to 154 in next six months. 

In private hospitals, dialysis costs Rs 1,500-2,500.