Sion Hospital, one of largest tertiary care centres in Mumbai is struggling to treat patients with just one dialysis machine even though 12 new dialysis machines are lying unpacked for over six months due to space and staff shortage. 

“Even if the 12 new machines were to be installed, the hospital does not have technicians to operate the machines and carry out dialysis round the clock,” said a member of the hospital staff. The hospital reportedly had three technicians but as of now only one of them has been on duty.

According to the hospital, the Acute Kidney Diseases Unit (AKD)  unit was due to be shifted into the newly constructed outdoor patient building  which has caused the delay in the installation of the machines has been because of infrastructural issues. “The installation and the public works department (PWD) work started from KEM and Nair Hospitals and then it was Sion Hospital’s turn. Once the PWD work is taken care of we’d be able to start the dialysis facilities,” said Dr N Moulick, head of department of medicine and in-charge of AKD unit.

Patients are being either turned away and some have been skipping dialysis schedules because of the lack of enough machines.

The dean of the hospital however had assured that the AKD unit would be functional by the June 25 but as on Monday the machines were not yet installed.

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