Rims to conduct free kidney transplants soon

Ranchi: The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims), the biggest government-run hospital in the state, said it will begin kidney transplants for free at its nephrology department, which became functional from Monday.
Talking to TOI, Rims director Dr D K Singh said: “An expert nephrologist, Dr Pragya Pant, has joined Rims. Now, we will be able to cater to patients with nephrological problems. We will start an out-patient department (OPD) and an indoor unit along with a dedicated dialysis centre at our super-specialty wing. We also have the required infrastructure to conduct kidney transplants.”
Singh added: “A kidney transplant costs anywhere between Rs 7 to 8 lakh in a private hospital, but we will do it for free.”
For the time being, the OPD will run for three days a week, whereas dialysis will be conducted every day under the supervision of Pant. Singh said plans are also afoot to start operations at the old dialysis unit housed in the Main Building of the campus.
However, Rims reportedly faces shortage of technicians. On being asked how Rims will run the dialysis unit without the required number of technicians, Singh said: “We are committed to provide best services to any patient visiting our hospital. But I would request the state government to provide us with more skilled hands in public interest.”
Notably, five dialysis patients had recently died in Ranchi after private hospitals refused services to kidney patients in the wake of the Covid-19 scare.