Kidney patients facing hardships for fistula test

Srikakulam: The patients, who need to undergo dialysis, are facing a lot of difficulties for taking fistula tests due to absence of urology department and non-availability of urologists at RIMS Hospital in Srikakulam.  The   fistula tests, which are mandatory before undergoing dialysis, could not be done on them under the supervision of urologists. As a result, they have to go all the way to King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam for the test.        

Many people in Itchapuram, Kaviti, Kanchili, Sompeta, Mandasa, Vajrapukotturu and Palasa mandals in Uddanam and its surrounding areas are facing kidney-related ailments. According to reports, there are more than one lakh patients identified in these mandals and among these, 13,000 patients must undergo dialysis. 

A total of 53 dialysis units are being maintained at five government hospitals across the district. “Before starting dialysis treatment, a fistula test is a must for all patients and it is available only at KGH in Visakhapatnam and at Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) in Nerlimarla near Vizianagaram,” NephroPlus manager for dialysis unit at RIMS A Ramesh and duty doctor Naveen, said while speaking to The  Hans India. But the patients chose to go to KGH for the tests as more experts and equipment are available there.

“There is a proposal for setting up of an urology wing at RIMS at the government level and we are waiting for it,” RIMS resident medical officer (RMO) Dr Bammidi Chinnappala Naidu said.

By Chowdari Lakshmana Rao