Govt to reintroduce old dialysis machines

Govt to reintroduce old dialysis machines

Health Reporter
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Zimbabwe -- GOVERNMENT is set to reintroduce phased-out dialysis machines to complement the existing ones that are always breaking down owing to the shortage of spare parts.

In a recent interview, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, described the old type dialysis machine — called Gambro — as more effective in treating kidney failure with the further advantage of the ready availability of spare parts.

"We used to have Gambro, but it was phased out when we got a major boost of the current machines. However, these machines are giving us problems in sourcing spare parts and they are always down," Dr Parirenyatwa said.

Procurement of the machines, the minister said, was being facilitated by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe under the Basic Commodities Supply Side Intervention programme to revamp the health sector.

"Finalisation of payments is imminent. We hope this development will lessen the burden of haemodialysis services facing the country at the moment," Dr Parirenyatwa said.

There are only two machines functioning at Harare Central Hospital while the other 18 at Parirenyatwa Hospital’s renal unit have broken down, forcing the institution to limit haemodialysis sessions for kidney patients.

Although the few machines at Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals are functioning, the performance is below the expected standard.

"There are few machines working in the country compared to the number of renal patients and their functioning is not pleasing," Dr Parirenyatwa said. According to the Zimbabwe Kidney Foundation Renal Services, there are at least 1 000 new cases of renal failure in the country every year.

Dialysis machines are used on very sick patients who would have suddenly but temporarily lost their kidney function (acute renal failure) or on quite stable patients who have permanently lost their kidney function (chronic kidney disease).

Dialysis cleanses the body system through waste and fluid removal. In the case of chronic kidney disease, patients undergo dialysis at least four hours three times a week.

Failure to access this treatment will eventually lead to death from heart failure, high blood pressure and other conditions.

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=1078&cat=1&livedate=9/24/2008