Life does not end with Haemodialysis
Kashmir Vision interviews Dr Masood Ul Hassan, Dialysis Physician, Well Care Dialysis Center. He talks about the current scenario of renal ailments in Kashmir and a way forward
Kashmir Vision (KV): What is the present scenario of Renal failure patients in Kashmir?
MasoodHassan (MH):Well for that we need a population based study and I don’t think that it has been done yet but an Indian population-based study determined the crude and age-adjusted End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) incidence rates at 151 and 232 per million population. Taking the population of Kashmir as around 75 lakhs so roughly we will have not less than 1000 new patients of ESRD added up every year in addition to old patients.
KV:What are the main causes of ESRD in Kashmir?
MH:Well,the diabetic nephropathy remains the topmost etiological factor of CKD followed by hypertensionand then chronic glomerulonephritis.
KV: Tell usmore about yourself
MH:I completed my MBBS in 2005 and in 2006 I qualified the entrance examination for PhD Nuclear Medicine atSher I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences(SKIMS),Soura,Srinagar and was accordingly selected for the same. My thesis topic was related to the renal disease, Icompleted the course in 2011.After completing my PhD I was selected on a tenure post ofSenior Resident in the same department which I left in late 2015. I got further training inHemodialysisat Sir Ganga Ram Hospital at New Delhi and after coming back established my own private setup for dialysis by the name “Well Care Dialysis Center”at Soura,Srinagar in 2015
KV:Apart from your professional duties what else do you do in addition to that?
MH:I also do social service,we have our own social service group in the name of “Doctors Group”. The main motive of this group is to provide ambulatory oxygen to the poor and needy which we provide to them “rent free” with some minimal formalities.
KV: Do patients with ESRD have restricted lifestyle, what I mean to say, can these patients do their routine day to day activities?
MH:Well,you have asked a very significant question, this is the most common enquiry we receive from patients and their relatives. I want to make it clear through this talk that a person of ESRD on regular maintenance hemodialysis can do his routine work just like a normal person unless he is suffering from some other co morbid conditions .In fact we have patients who come to thecenter driving their own four wheelers or two wheelers. Some patients come in public transport and in fact some patients who reside nearby come on foot.
KV:Are there any specific dietary modifications related to the patients on Haemodialysis?
MH: Though there are some dietary modifications prior to the haemodialysis but once the patient is put on haemodialysis there is a relaxation in dietary schedule.
KV: What is the present dialysis status in our valley with respect to availability of thehaemodialysiscenters.
MH:In private sector we have around 20 centers including Charitable Centres which are catering to the renal failure patients. Govt. of India has initiated a programme of starting dialysis facilities at District level Hospitals through National Dialysis Services Program to cater to the increased need of these patients and recently in our valley dialysis centers have started functioning in some of District level Hospitals and others are in the process of installing the required infrastructure. We have also few of community based charitable dialysis centers which are also serving the patients.
KV: What are the problems you face in these dialysis patients?
MH:We have a proper team which includes a Nephrologist, Dialysis Physician and technical & nursing staff who are well versed and trained with procedure of dialysis. Regarding medical aspects of the procedure we handle that in a proper professional way.
KV:We have heard that Haemodialysis is a costly affair and many patients skip the HD session or don’t continue due to the cost factor, what is your say about this?
MH:Yes, you are absolutely right, it is a huge financial burden on the patients and many patients can’t afford it due to financial constraints which is the biggest drawback and takes toll on the patient and thus increases the mortality and morbidity. Though the Govt. has started the dialysis program which caters to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients who are on haemodialysis.Govt has come up with the insurance scheme for dialysis patients under Prime Minister’s Programme “Ayushman Bharat” for patients below poverty line in which HD patients are also benefitted which is in the initial stage and hope there will be less hassles in that scheme, both for these patients and the Centre owners also. In addition to that there are charitable organisations which sponsor some dialysis patients.
KV:What is the take home message?
MH: Maintenance Haemodialysis is a part of life and not an end of life.Thanks.
KV Correspondent
