THE South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) has purchased five new haemodialysis machines for the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) valued at over US$200,000.

The machines are being purchased through a grant from the CHASE Fund.

“We recognise the great demand for haemodialysis services at KPH and so the machines that have been purchased will be part of our efforts to expand the nephrology services so that more patients can access this specialised care,” Dr Andrei Cooke, SERHA Board Chairman said. “We purchased the most technologically advanced machines which are more efficient.”

Dr Cooke also noted that the new machines will allow KPH to offer portable haemodialysis treatment for the first time in the hospital’s history.

“We will be able to take the machines to the patients on the wards who are not well enough to be taken to the Haemodialysis Unit,” Dr Cooke explained. Currently 15 emergency haemodialysis sessions are done at KPH each week.

The Haemodialyis Unit treats patients with kidney failure which is a gradual and progressive loss of the kidneys’ ability to excrete waste, concentrate urine and conserve electrolytes. At least 34 patients are dialysed per day at KPH. Each patient is dialysed twice weekly.

The region has been working to improve the access to haemodialysis treatment at KPH. The region partnered with National Health Fund and CHASE FUND in 2009 to purchase 17 new haemodialysis machines valued at US$386,000.

In 2012, three more machines were added to the unit. The region purchased the machines as well as a Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System at a cost of over US$100,000. The equipment were purchased through a grant from the CHASE Fund.