Three hundred persons are suffering from chronic kidney diseases (CKDu) in the Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts and they do not have access to dialysis treatment facility, sources said.
Reportedly, a few hospitals in the North Central Province have dialysis treatment machines and relevant medical care including the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Medirigiriya, Hingurakgoda, Kebithigollewa, Padaviya, Medawachchiya and Thambuttegama Hospitals. Around 19,000 kidney patients including CKDu patients have been registered at the hospitals in the NCP. Nearly 300 CKDu patients do not get dialysis treatment three times per month due to lack of medical facilities at many hospitals in the districts.
Lack of doctors, nurses and trained staff is the main obstacle to provide proper treatment for these patients, the sources said.
“We need at least 50 trained nurses and 20 doctors,” Dr. Palitha Bandara said.
He said the President, during his recent visit to Kahatagasdigiliya, came to know about the shortcomings and directed officials to take steps immediately to resolve them.