Kidney dialysis kicks off at Chattogram General Hospital after 125 years
Only one machine is handling high patient load
Highlights
- Dialysis service launched after 125 years
- Trial began on 27 April, formal launch today
- Single machine limits critical patient capacity
- Low-income patients gain affordable treatment hope
After more than a century since its establishment, the 250-bed Chattogram General Hospital has introduced a kidney dialysis facility, raising hopes for patients suffering from severe kidney complications who previously had limited affordable options.
Hospital authorities formally launched the service today (3 May), following a trial run on 27 April when dialysis was conducted on a patient for the first time.
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The long-awaited facility is expected to ease the burden on low-income patients, many of whom struggled to afford costly treatment at private hospitals.
Until now, patients admitted with kidney complications — including those in the hospital's 18-bed intensive care unit (ICU) — often had to be referred elsewhere for dialysis, with some discontinuing treatment due to financial constraints.
Low-cost service brings hope to kidney patients
"Earlier, doctors used to refer patients to other hospitals; now the service is available here," said Rahima Begum, a relative of an ICU patient.
Echoing similar sentiments, Zahirul Islam, a patient's guardian, said expanding the unit would eliminate the need for transfers. "If the full unit is operational, patients won't need to go elsewhere. A few more machines could make the service accessible to all," he added.
For now, dialysis services are being provided on a trial basis using a single machine, which hospital officials acknowledge is insufficient. Around half of ICU patients require dialysis, underscoring the urgent need for expansion.
In March, the hospital submitted a proposal to the health ministry seeking approval for a 20-bed dialysis unit, outlining requirements for infrastructure, machines, and trained personnel.
"We can now provide dialysis to critically ill patients with kidney complications," said Dr Rajdip Biswas, in charge of the ICU.
Hospital superintendent Dr Ekram Hossain said scaling up the service will require additional machines, logistics, and skilled staff, including doctors, nurses, and specialists.
He noted that the hospital's only hemodialysis machine — along with other equipment worth Tk24 lakh — was received from a donor.
Currently, dialysis services in the Chattogram division are limited. The 21-bed unit at Chattogram Medical College Hospital remains the primary public facility, while the Port Hospital offers dialysis only to government employees and their families.
With the dialysis service, patients are hoping for expanded, low-cost access to life-saving treatment closer to home.
