KUALA LUMPUR: The Columbia Asia Group of Hospitals has opened its first dialysis centre at Columbia Asia Hospital in Klang to cater for the rising number of end-stage renal failure patients requiring dialysis.
The hospital's general manager Wong Wai Mun said the dialysis centres currently available in Klang are still inadequate to accommodate the annual surge in the number of patients that require dialysis.
"With the opening of the new dialysis centre at Columbia Asia Hospital – Klang, we hope to fulfil the demands of dialysis services in Klang and surrounding areas.
"Our objective is to provide the community with effective dialysis services, focusing on patients' safety as well as quality of service. These are our top priorities.
"By adding another type of health service in this hospital, we hope to make our healthcare services not only more convenient and accessible but also more comprehensive," she said during the launch ceremony last Wed.
According to the Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry, 8,431 new patients were getting dialysis in early 2018. Less than one year from that period, the number of patients getting dialysis surged to 44,136 patients.
The registry also estimated that by 2040, the number of patients needing dialysis would reach 106,000.
Columbia Asia Group chief executive officer Dr Chan Boon Kheng said the new dialysis centre also aims to promote awareness, prevention and early detection of kidney diseases.
"Columbia Asia has another mission and that is to bring the message of prevention and kidney health home. Kidney disease can be prevented and if detected early, can be controlled.
"The march towards end-stage renal failure and dialysis is not inevitable. Awareness, prevention and early detection are other strategies in managing kidney diseases. The opening of the dialysis centre today is a continuation of this strategy.
"We will continue to develop and introduce more clinical programs at our facilities so that our patients can receive medical services closer to their homes," he added.
The dialysis machines at the hospital are readily installed with a Therapy Data Management System. This integrated system enables the medical team to document and monitor patient information including dialysis treatment and medication data, laboratory data and other data related to pre-dialysis procedures and during dialysis procedures.
The continuous tracking, trending and analysis of these important parameters are essential for the medical team to plan the right treatment for the patient.
The dialysis centre is also complemented by various support services that add more value to the dialysis sessions.
For instance, a dietician is stationed on site to provide consultation to the dialysis patients, supervising their menu and food intake. Other departments include 24-hour emergency and laboratory services which may not be available at other dialysis centres.
Dr T. Kalaiselvam Thevandran, a nephrologist and internal medicine physician, will head the dialysis centre with the assistance from a team of nurses trained in renal care.