Free dialysis services now available at six regional hospitals

Public dialysis services are now available at six hospitals across Guyana, including Diamond Regional Hospital, Lima Regional Hospital, Bath Regional Hospital, Number 75 Regional Hospital, and De Kinderen Regional Hospital.

Head of the Internal Medicine Department at Diamond Regional Hospital, Dr Keisha Defreitas, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Tuesday that the medical facility has already treated more than 50 patients to date.

The goal, she said, is to meet the needs of Region Four patients.

“…With assistance from the nephrology department at GPHC, we are able to identify patients who really need support for the dialysis sessions, and we prioritise them,” she said.

Dr Defreitas explained that dialysis services operate seven days a week, with the capacity to treat six patients at a time, including inpatients and outpatients, as some patients admitted to the hospital also require dialysis.

“Presently, due to staffing, we are doing 12-hour shifts, so we work from seven am to seven pm, and based on how the sessions go, sometimes the staff is there after seven,” she stated.

At Bath Regional Hospital, about 16 patients have already benefitted since the service commenced on September 22, with more expected to access the treatment.

Medical Superintendent Dr Daniel Robertson disclosed on Wednesday that the facility has two dialysis machines in operation.

Region Six’s Regional Health Officer Dr Vinashri Khirodhar told DPI that Number 75 Village Regional Hospital also has two dialysis machines in operation.

The expansion is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to access treatment, while easing the burden on them and their families.

Persons requiring dialysis are encouraged to visit any of the six hospitals to access the service and arrange their treatment sessions.

The initiative forms part of the Ministry of Health’s continued efforts to improve access to essential healthcare services and ensure more Guyanese can receive critical treatment closer to their communities. [DPI]