Kidney transplants in A’pura from next year

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

Kidney transplant operations and kidney ailment research will commence at the Anuradhapura Kidney Hospital from May 2011 with the commissioning of the kidney transplantation operation theatre complex.

Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Director Dr W M T B Wijekoon told Daily News that following negotiations the Government had with the French Government, they have agreed to extend financial and medical technical assistance to the kidney transplant operation theatre.

“Work on the operation theatre will begin in January 2011. Work will be completed in April. Operations could be carried out from May 2011,” Dr Wijekoon said. He said that the Health Ministry is making arrangements to provide staff.

“There are 80 chronic kidney patients registered for dialysis treatment at the Anuradhapura kidney hospital. Around 100 to 150 renal patients visit the clinic for treatment five days per week. The Government spends around Rs 30,000 for one patient for dialysis treatment per month,” Dr Wijekoon said.