Subsidised kidney dialysis treatment for the poor

The centre has on staff three doctors - one doctor-in-charge and two nephrologists (kidney specialists) - and six nurses and dialysis assistants.

Bhaskaran Velayutham, has been undergoing hemodialysis for over two years and he's ever grateful for the dialysis centre that he goes to, and not just for providing him the treatment he needs to survive.

The 54-year-old has been going for dialysis at the Eagles Dialysis Centre in Subang Jaya, Selangor, where they've helped him to find out his eligibility for state subsidies and even assisted him to apply for them, allowing for his fully-subsidised treatments.

“They’re not only providing me with the dialysis treatment, but they've also helped me to apply for subsidies such as Bantuan Sihat Selangor and Mitra, because dialysis is an expensive treatment and I wouldn't be able to afford it otherwise," says the retiree whose treatment costs are fully borne by Socso and Mitra.

Without subsidy or sponsorship, hemodialysis treatment usually costs RM170 per session at Eagles Dialysis Centre and the rates are often more expensive at other dialysis and medical centres.

"My condition has improved so much since I started my treatment here. I'm really thankful to all the nurses as they really take good care of me," he says.

The centre’s head nurse Maslindah Nikit, defines hemodialysis a "a treatment where extra fluid and waste products are removed from the blood by a dialysis machine when the kidneys are no longer able to due to renal failure".

"Without dialysis, the fluids and waste products can build up to dangerous levels in the body. Left untreated, this can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms and result in loss of life," she explains.

Bhaskaran needs to have dialysis three times a week and each time, it takes around four hours.

"It's very convenient because it's near my home, there is ample car park and it's free!" he says, adding that this is important for him because he drives himself to his treatments and he doesn't have to walk too far as the carpark is right at the entrance of the centre.

The nurses and staff at Eagles Dialysis Centre taking good care of the patients.

How it started

Eagles Dialysis Centre was started in April 2013 as a community project by a local church, Full Gospel Tabernacle, to provide hemodialysis treatment on a non-profit basis to the community, irrespective of race and religion.

"The aim of Eagles Dialysis Centre is to serve the less fortunate in our society, namely end-stage kidney failure patients from the lower income group so that they can obtain affordable and quality hemodialysis treatment," says the centre's operations executive Cindy Wong.

The dialysis centre helps patients from the lower income group with treatment costs in several ways – sourcing government and other subsidies for them (indirectly subsidised), charging lower rates for deserving patients (directly subsidised), or waiving charges (outright sponsorship), says Wong.

“We have a total space of 500 sqm, a stretcher lift, and an ideal free parking space for patients,” she says.

There is wheelchair access to the centre.

“Our centre can cater to 48 patients. We have on staff three doctors – one doctor-in-charge and two nephrologists (kidney specialists) – and six nurses and dialysis assistants,” she says.

Maslindah adds that renal failure patients need to have hemodialysis treatment three times weekly.

“Injuries and conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or lupus can damage the kidneys, and this may lead to kidney disease and failure. Others also develop kidney problems due to unknown reasons,” she says.

Maslindah says that people can reduce their risks of kidney disease by managing health conditions that cause kidney damage such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

“During medical visits, ask the doctor about your kidney health. There might not be any symptoms at the early stages so it is better to get tested. We need to eat healthy, balanced meals and cut back on salt and added sugar. Choose foods that are good for your heart and entire body. Also, make physical activity part of your daily routine, and exercise for at least 30 minutes daily,” she advises.

Most of the patients are local and a majority of them live near to the centre, but there are some from further away, says Wong.

As a non-profit organisation, Eagles Dialysis Centre also receives donations from corporations and individuals, including family members of former patients who have been helped and others who have heard of the facility, she adds.

Improving patients’ lives

(From left) operations manager Woo, head nurse Maslindah and operations executive Wong.

“The dialysis centre is like a lifeline. Without dialysis, these people wouldn’t have a life because once a person has renal failure, the kidney isn’t able to process and eliminate toxins from the body. And when this happens, the toxins enter the body causing them to deteriorate and eventually die,” says the centre's operations manager Nancy Woo.

“We don’t just provide dialysis treatment. We help our patients and their families have a more comfortable life,” she says.

“We had a 58-year-old patient sometime ago who was bedridden and came to the centre in a wheelchair because she was too weak to walk. Today, she can dress up, go shopping, and have fun, because dialysis gives patients back their life,” shares Woo.

“To work or serve in a dialysis centre, the doctors, nurses and other staff really need to have a heart for it,” she says.

“You need to understand your patient, spend time to talk with them, understand their background, empathise with them, and not everyone has that. But here, all our nurses are very patient,” she adds.

The kidney dialysis machine.“Some patients are very poor. We visit their home to see how we can help them. If they can’t afford the dialysis treatment, we help them find subsidies they’re entitled to and we even help them apply for it if they aren’t computer literate.”

“For some, they don’t have an income source so we try to find them and their family members some place where they can earn a living, so that they can live more comfortably.”

“If not, it’s an expensive illness, and often, there’s friction in the home due to lack of money, and the patient tries to refrain from going for dialysis treatment – at the expense of their health - because they don’t want to be a burden to their family,” says Woo.

Wong says that their future plan is to "upgrade the dialysis machines, and to add a third shift (there are currently two) so that they can serve the community better as more patients have registered for treatment".

“The greatest challenge for our centre is recruiting nurses with Post-Basic Training because many nurses in Malaysia prefer to work in private hospitals locally or in Singapore and the Middle East for a higher salary,” she says.

“Our nurses aren’t paid the highest salaries or getting the best benefits in the industry. But they are willing to work with us because they identify with our vision which is to help the poor receive dialysis treatment so that they can live well like everyone else,” she concludes.