From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Meida Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 13: Free dialysis services to patients suffering from chronic renal diseases and belonging to below poverty line (BPL) families, Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda announced in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

However, patients belonging to above poverty line would be charged Rs 350, the chief minister said during the question hour.

The State Government would take steps to provide dialysis facility in all district and taluk hospitals in the State, Gowda said.

Replying to a question from BJP member Ravi Subramanya, the chief minister said as many as 111 dialysis equipment has been provided at various district and taluks hospitals in the State and 422 patients benefited till October last.

No survey had been conducted to find out number of patients in the State. But as per the available information, there are over 15000 people suffering from the disease, Gowda said.

The facility would be provided to Koppal district hospital and a building was getting ready for the purpose. There was no building to provide the facility at Yadgir.

A sum of Rs. 85 crore has been sanctioned to construct a building and purchase of dialysis equipment at the district hospital in Madikeri, he said.

Earlier, H C Mahadevappa, Krishna Byre Gowda, N L Narendra Babu (all Congress), C T Ravi, and Gopalakrishna Belur (BJP) alleged that there was no trained staff in dialysis centres in district and taluk hospitals in the State.

Narendra Babu alleged that private hospitals charge enormous fees for dialysis and demanded the Government to fix rates.

In a reply to U T Khader of the Congress, the Chief Minister said steps would be taken to ensure regular availability of life saving drugs and essential drugs in health centes and hospitals in the State. There was no shortage of funds to purchase drugs, he said.