Irate relatives of several patients battling kidney diseases on Tuesday appealed to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) health department and the Fata health directorate to repair dysfunctional dialysis machines in the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Landi Kotal.

Reportedly, the machines have been placed in the hospital’s store room for the last six years, whereas patients were being shifted to hospitals in Peshawar for dialysis.

Meanwhile, Khyber Youth Forum Chairman Bakht Ali Shah said that he has been undergoing severe difficulties while taking his maternal aunt to a kidney center for the last five years.

“Dialysis machines are required for several tribesmen who have been suffering because there is limited treatment available in the kidney center,” he said.

Landi Kotal Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Khalid Javed revealed that essential medical equipment and machines were provided to the hospital ten years ago when its status was upgraded to category ‘A’, however dialysis machine could not be provided due to ‘unknown’ reasons.

He said that the health officials were frequently informed about the concerns of tribesmen, but to no avail.

Moreover, he said that he could provide medical staff in the hospital, if the health department would train them to operate dialysis machines.

Published in Daily Times, September 19th 2018.