Kolkata, Feb 27 (IANS): Help is at hand for patients in Kolkata with chronic kidney disease. A fully-equipped mobile dialysis ambulance with a medical team is just a phone call away.

Available round-the-clock, the Dialysis on Wheels service is the first in the city and the state.

A venture of Dreamland Nursing Home, it differs from other such units in India as the dialysis is carried out inside the vehicle itself.

"We differ from others as we provide the service within the ambulance whereas the other service providers do it in the patient's home," Prashant Kumar Agarwal, one of the directors of the healthcare provider, told IANS.

Fitted with latest dialysis equipment, the air-conditioned mobile unit is built on an advanced ambulance platform. It has got a reverse osmosis plant, ventilator, critical care monitor and necessary life-saving devices for emergencies.

"The technical team on-board the ambulance consists of a nephrologist, a paramedic and a helper to assist in the process," said Agarwal.

The service will be available within a 20 km radius of the nursing home located in Kolkata's Shyambazar area and each dialysis session will cost Rs.4,000.

"We are starting off with only one ambulance but we will scale up the units to include other parts of the state soon," said Agarwal.

The helpline number is "98303 78500". It can be also booked online through dialysisonwheels.com.