Our main objective is to provide dialysis at a subsidized cost to the patients who require it but cannot afford it. We also provide, at a subsidy, other things necessary for a dialysis patient such as dialyser (artificial kidney) to be used for dialysis, tubing sets to be used during dialysis, erythropoietin injections etc.
We have tied up with some hospitals in the city that will provide dialysis to patients at Rs. 800 per session. The trust bears Rs. 500 of this cost while the patient has to bear Rs. 300 per session. On the last Sunday of every month, we distribute coupons to the patients for the following month, each coupon entitling a person to a single session of dialysis at a particular hospital. The patient can avail of any number of coupons.
The patient goes with these coupons to the hospital and presents it along with a cash payment of Rs. 300 and gets a session of dialysis. The hospital collects Rs. 500 per coupon from the trust periodically.
So, the patients can get a session of dialysis for as little as Rs. 300 compared to the Rs. 800 to Rs. 3000 per session they would otherwise have to pay. Often, this is the difference between continuing to live life and accepting death as the only option.
We also make available the dialyser and tubing sets that are required for dialysis to the patients at subsidized costs. We get these directly from the manufacturers. Since we buy these in bulk, we get it a lower cost and provide these to the patients at cost.
Most dialysis patients also need erythropoietin injections to maintain their blood levels at healthy values. There are different strengths of this injection and the most commonly used injection is of strength 4000 units. Most patients have to take 1 to 3 such injections every week. Each injection costs between Rs. 865 to Rs. 2000 in the market depending on the brand. The trust is making this injection available at Rs. 380 to patients.
By providing dialysis, the associated consumables and other ancillary medicines, the trust is trying to make the burden of kidney disease a little easier to bear for patients and their families. We realize that we cannot take away the primary disease from the patient. This, unfortunately, is something the patient has to live with. What we are trying to do is to make sure that life for these unfortunate people becomes a little less painful, a little less burdensome and yes, a little more cheerful!