Solar energy-run dialysis service at Ratnagar hospital benefits many

Chitwan / March 10: Solar energy-run dialysis service that came into operation at Ratnanagar Hospital in Chitwan has become effective and benefited many.

Since its operation on December 1, the number of patients availing of the service put at 358, the hospital said.

The information was shared at a programme held in the district to mark the 11th World Kidney Day being celebrated across the country with various programmes.

“The Kidney patients availing of the service are also from as far as Sarlahi, Rautahat and Gorkha,” said health assistant at the hospital Chandra Kanta Acharya.

Besides, the facility has benefited kidney patients in a numerous ways like saving money and time of patients, who otherwise had to go to faraway Kathmandu and other cities for treatment, spending much money and time.

A kidney patient Dhan Bahadur Sarki from Madhabpur in Chitwan who underwent treatment at the hospital on December 2 and is still visiting it for follow-up said that around Rs 8,000 is spent on transportation alone to Kathmandu for treatment of his disease.

Other expenses include in food and lodging while receiving treatment far from his house, he added. “Now I am very much happy as the facility is nearby my location,” he said, adding that his both kidneys failed and he is receiving treatment at the hospital for free.

He however, said that doctors involved in his treatment said that he needs to undergo kidney transplant, but lamented that he does not have money enough for the transplant.

Out of the total 358 kidney patients receiving treatment at the hospital, 13 people from impoverished families are undergoing for free, the hospital said. A kidney treatment centre equipped with necessary equipments has been set up at the hospital to run the service.

The project cost around Rs 10 million and Shanti Med Nepal and the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre have come to the help financially. RSS