KUCHING, Oct 1: Sarawak needs at least 60 new dialysis machines to accommodate the growing needs of patients.
According to a news report from Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) yesterday (Sept 30), Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said that the number of patients needing the machine is increasing yearly.
“The number of new patients diagnosed with kidney failure is 750 every year, and more than 300 patients die every year,” he said at the launching ceremony of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Dialysis Centre and Sarawak Kidney Association (KAS) in Kota Samarahan yesterday.
Dr Sim added that dialysis centres under his ministry, including the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sarawak, have given more than 4,000 kidney patients a second chance to get treatment.
He said the NKF-KAS Kota Samarahan Dialysis Centre is the third branch in Sarawak, where 55 patients receive dialysis treatment at the centre.
“The centre has ten dialysis machines, four nurses, three dialysis assistants, and an administrator to assist in the treatment process for patients who come from around the Kuching area, such as Batu Kawa, Matang, Petra Jaya, Simunjan, Asajaya, Kota Samarahan, Padawan, Tabuan, Serian, and Sri Aman,” he said. — DayakDaily
