Rangpur Medical College Hospital: Glitch causes kidney dialysis suspension

Kidney dialysis at the nephrology department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital remained suspended for four days until yesterday as its water treatment plant is not working due to a technical glitch.

As a result, the 25-bed nephrology ward of the hospital has been wearing a deserted look as patients have to leave when they are informed of unavailability of treatment.

The plant unit in-charge Mokhlesur Rahman said on an average 60 kidney patients take dialysis service at the hospital on a daily basis.

Hospital sources said the water plant is an important part of dialysis system, but it stopped functioning on Wednesday, forcing the hospital authorities to suspend the service.

The suspension order was announced on Wednesday and Thursday, they said.

Mokhlesur Rahman said high officials of the healthcare facility were informed about the glitch and steps are being taken in this regard.

Many kidney patients are still visiting the hospital everyday as they are unaware about the situation, he said.

Hospital sources said 14 dialysis machines are currently working at the unit. Treated water collected from the plant is essential to run dialysis process, said Mokhlesur.

Patients especially from outside Rangpur are suffering the most. Morzina Begum from Hatibandha in Lalmonirhat said she has been suffering from kidney problem for last three years. “I need to be on dialysis every Sunday and Wednesday,” she said.

She underwent dialysis on January 26 (Sunday). She missed the next one on Wednesday as the water treatment plant fell in technical glitch right on the day. “Due to the gap, I am already facing complications in my body,” she said.

People especially from low-income families visit the public hospital for dialysis. Mokhlesur Rahman said a patient has to buy a package of 48 days at Tk 20,000.

But the cost is almost double for similar service at private hospitals in Rangpur city, said patients.

Mirazul Islam from the district’s Gangachara upazila said his four-hour dialysis was cut short to two hours amid the technical error. He said he also missed the next dialysis.

Failed to avail of the service, Mizarul returned home on Wednesday. “My family members tried to know when the service will resume, but no avail.”

Hospital Director Dr Faridul Islam said technicians concerned are already working to fix the water treatment plant as early as possible. “We are considering patients’ suffering,” he said.

Talking about the plant’s effectiveness, he said it became old and went beyond warranty period. “We will offer tender for a new water treatment plant soon. By that time, we have to depend on this as there is no alternative to it.”