PANAJI
Having to rely on facilities outside the State, renal failure patients in Goa now prefer the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) at Bambolim for kidney transplant procedures, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has claimed.
Rane also said that the Health Department in collaboration with the APEX Kidney Foundation is providing free dialysis at 15 different facilities across the State to ensure "equitable access" for all sections of society.
He added that the dialysis facility is available in both North and South Goa districts, adding that Goa is the first State to provide dialysis as well as kidney transplant treatment free of cost.
"With 15 dialysis units strategically positioned across the region, individuals grappling with renal issues can now avail of essential care and support," Rane wrote on 'X' (formerly Twitter) on Thursday commemorated as 'World Kidney Day'.
"@GoaGmc has emerged as patients’ preferred choice for the treatment of kidney diseases and transplants," Rane further said, adding that the Nephrology department of the GMC has an advanced HLA lab and a dedicated team of doctors skilled in kidney transplants. He said, from pre-surgery counselling to post-operation support, everything is provided at no cost to patients and their families.
According to Professor and Head of GMC's nephrology department, Dr J P Tiwari, kidney transplant is the best option available for end-stage renal failure patients. However, across the country, the gap between availability of organs to patients awaiting transplant is, on an average, over a lakh at any given point of time.
It is no different in Goa and the wait list of patients needing a kidney transplant for want of a donor with a matching organ at the GMC is always above the 40-mark. Usually, a living donor is a family member of the patient but GMC has also performed transplants with organs harvested from deceased donors, through SOTTO Goa.
