HIV patients face dialysis shortfall in Chennai

HIV-positive people living in Chennai are facing increasing difficulties in obtaining dialysis as and when they need it.

A number of hospitals across the area do not offer this specific treatment for people infected with HIV/Aids, according to Indian newspaper the Express Buzz.

Limited resources have meant that dialysis machines are only made available to kidney transplant patients with a live donor prior to their surgery.

A senior government doctor told the publication: "People with HIV/Aids generally have chronic kidney failure and require a full-fledged maintenance dialysis programme which we do not have in the government set up."

Dr N Kumaraswamy, chief medical officer of the YR Gaitonde Centre for Aids Research and Education, commented that between five and seven per cent of HIV/Aids patients can suffer long-term side-effects of the antiretroviral drugs, giving rise to the need for dialysis.

Figures from the World Health Organisation state there are between 2,200,000 and 7,600,000 people under 50 suffering from HIV/Aids in India.