Catheter shortage: positive response from Minister

by Carol Aloysius

The premier hospital for kidney ailments in the North Central Province is facing a severe shortage of perotinial dialysis catheters. Informed sources said there were two procedures when treating patients with kidney failure. Hemo dialysis to clean the blood which is a more direct form and Peritonial dialysis which involves inserting peritoneal catheters into the peritoneal cavity to clean the blood indirectly.

They said that not all patients requiring dialysis were able to tolerate the more direct form of Hemo dialysis. Perotonial dialysis was thus their only life saving option.

Hospital sources speaking on grounds of anonymity told the Sunday Observer that they had informed the Health Ministry of the non availability of peritoneal dialysis catheters four months ago.

"The Minister responded positively and promised to look into the matter immediately.

These catheters are not available anywhere in the island. We hope they will be made available soon, as the lives of many patients who depend on them are at risk", a hospital spokesman said.

The number of kidney patients at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital is reported to be 8,000 while the OPD clinics are patronised by between 150-200 patients daily.