Telangana’s Health Minister, C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, has unveiled an ambitious plan to revolutionize kidney care across the state. He announced that the government is committed to setting up a dialysis center every 20 to 25 kilometers, aiming to dramatically reduce travel burdens and long waiting hours for patients requiring this life-saving treatment. The ultimate goal is to make these services so accessible that individuals can travel, receive their treatment, and return home all within a few hours.
This pivotal announcement was made during a recent review meeting focused on expanding dialysis facilities. Minister Narasimha highlighted the alarming increase in dialysis patient numbers, which have soared from approximately 1,230 in 2009, when services were initially introduced, to over 12,000 today—a figure projected to continue rising. He voiced serious concerns about the escalating prevalence of kidney and cancer cases, noting a shift in public health challenges. Historically, infectious diseases posed the primary threat, but now, lifestyle-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney ailments, and various cancers are becoming the leading health concerns.
Narasimha emphasized that chronic conditions like kidney disease and cancer demand long-term care, and healthcare facilities must be adequately prepared to provide sustained support. He acknowledged the immense physical, mental, and financial hardships faced by dialysis patients. While existing pension schemes offer some relief, he stressed the critical need for comprehensive medical assistance to be readily available closer to patients’ homes.
To bring this vision to fruition, the Minister directed Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu to develop detailed proposals. These proposals will outline the strategic placement of new dialysis centers based on patient demographics, population density, and geographical distance. Additionally, they will include plans to augment the capacity of existing centers by installing more machines to meet the growing demand. Currently, Telangana operates 102 dialysis centers, serving around 7,500 patients.