Ahmadabad 16th August, 2023:Dialysis under PMJAY was closed from 14th to 16th August by Gujarat Nephrology Association in protest against the reduced rate of dialysis under PMJAY scheme. On Monday, a large number of patients also went to collector offices in all cities to present this issue.
Nephrology association feels that the Gujarat government is not taking this issue seriously in the situation that has arisen after the changes made in the dialysis package.
Yesterday, the private doctors gave the dialysis treatment free of cost to patients at their own expense, with a humane approach. Hence no patient has been harassed and forced to undergo dialysis in a government hospital. Without understanding this matter properly, there is a statement from the government that despite this strike, the dialysis centers of the government hospitals have taken up this responsibility. But the patients feel that the government is still daydreaming.
During the strike, more than 4000 dialysis sessions were given free of charge in the private sector. If all these patients go to the government hospital together, then the big question is how the government hospital can afford it. The patients are asking the government.
So far the Nephrology Association has not been called by the government for talks.
Apart from this, another statement came from Government that in other states dialysis is done for Rs 1500 but in Gujarat Rs 1650 is given. Regarding this, the officials of Gujarat Nephrology Association said that according to the national package, dialysis is done in Rs 1500 only. But only dialysis is done in it and along with necessary medicine and injection package of Rs 700 has to be taken separately. Thus (1500 + 600 for EPO injections) Rs 2100 are given as dialysis package in Rajasthan. And (1500+ 600 for EPO + 100 for lab investigations) Rs 2200 are given in Chhattisgarh for dialysis.
The demand of Gujarat Nephrology Association is very reasonable that dialysis charges (1500 + 700) 2200 should be made like NHA (National health authority) and other states.
Apart from this, more than 60 centers run by the government are served by only private nephrologists. If this is not resolved within three days, more drastic measures have been decided by the Nephrology Association.
Dialysis is a very complex treatment and it is very necessary to do it under the guidance of a Nephrologist. It is a humble request of Gujarat Nephrology Association that Health Minister Shri Rishikeshbhai Patel and CM Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel intervene in this and bring relief.
