KARACHI, Jan 21: Free dialysis facility will soon be restored and appropriately streamlined in the country in coordination with provincial departments, said Mohammad Aslam, director general, ministry of health, at the inaugural ceremony of “Dialysis Treatment Project” here on Monday.

He said necessary funding for the programme would be acquired through Baitul Maal and Zakat Fund.

The government would soon promulgate an ordinance about organs transplantation in the country to accord the process a legal cover, he added.

“In July, 2001, the national dialysis scheme was handed over to the Director of Health, Federal Health Ministry. However, due to non funding by the government it failed to accomplish its desired results which compelled the ministry officials to communicate with the pharmaceutical companies for provision of prerequisite funding to facilitate the kidney patients seeking dialysis treatment.” he said.

While appreciating the philanthropists for taking interest in the public health projects, he stressed the need for an equal attention towards the backward and less-developed parts of the country.

With reference to the project, which he inaugurated at the Kidney Centre, Mr Aslam said the precedence set by a pharmaceutical company needed to be followed by other organizations.

He agreed that free availability of dialysis facility or even public accessibility to it at subsidised charges might be a positive gesture, yet, he said, stress should also be placed on public awareness regarding prevention of the renal ailments.

The health ministry director also acknowledged that limited resources at the disposal of the government made it necessary for proper planning and above all adequate management of the health care projects as well as the institutions functioning in the country.

Mr Aslam, who also took a round of the Kidney Centre, appreciating the commitment of the workers associated with it, termed the institution a shining example of public-private partnership.

According to him the Institute would also impart higher education of Nephrology and Urology to doctors, besides carrying out transplantation of the needy patients.

The health director general said the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) had recognized the post-graduate education of the institute.

Mian Mohammad Rafi, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Kidney Centre Post Graduate Institute, appreciating the Pfizer Foundation for its support towards the cause of the deserving dialysis patients, said the recurring expenditures of long-term dialysis were beyond the reach of the common man.

Razi Ansari of the pharmaceutical company said the dialysis project would help treat 100-200 poor and deserving patients in need of dialysis treatment at the Kidney Centre, which has recently been upgraded to the Kidney Centre Postgraduate Training Institute. The dialysis clinic at the Centre operates in four shifts and at present there are 218 regular long-term dialysis patients at the institute.—APP/PPI