Media Release
Kundapur, May 17: A subsidised kidney dialysis service for economically weaker patients of all communities in the Kundapur region was launched at Vinay Hospital under a welfare initiative of the Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh in association with Trinity Medicare Services supported by Joseph Menezes Sasthan, Freeda Rego and Basil Pinto.
The service was introduced with the support and consent of Vinay Hospital owner Dr Vishwanath Shetty, making affordable dialysis treatment accessible to needy patients in and around Kundapur.
Speaking on the occasion, Walter Cyril Pinto, convener of the Catholic Sabha Central Dialysis Service Committee, said the initiative is aimed at providing dialysis treatment at concessional rates to poor patients across the district. The project is being implemented with financial assistance provided by Trinity Medicare Services.
He said the scheme has already been extended to more than 60 patients through tie-ups with several hospitals and dialysis centres in Udupi district, including Lombard Memorial Hospital, A V Baliga Memorial Hospital, Mahesh Hospital, Rotary Brahmavar Suvarnotsava Dialysis Centre - Kamal Baliga Hospital, Goretti Hospital and Mount Rosary Hospital Moodbidri.
Applications submitted by patients are being verified, following which identity cards are issued. These cards can be used at the affiliated dialysis centres to avail treatment at subsidised rates.
The organisers also announced that the service would soon be expanded to Karkala.
The Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh expressed gratitude to donors Joseph Menezes, Freeda Rego and Basil Pinto for contributing Rs. 3 lakh every month towards the scheme through Trinity Medicare Services.
The dialysis service initiative was originally launched on November 14, 2025, at Kalyanpur under the leadership of former Catholic Sabha Central Committee president Ronald Almeida.
Dr Vishwanath Shetty extended his best wishes for the success of the programme.
Among those present were Catholic Sabha regional committee president Shaila Almeida, former president Vinod Crasto, immediate past president Remy Fernandes, president-designate Alexander Lewis, treasurer Rita Quadras, vice-president John Almeida, secretary Maria DSilva, women’s representative convener Asha Carvalho, political convener Roshan Barreto, dialysis department officer Nagaraj and others.