Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 19 June 2023
Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) patients in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&N) can now breathe a sigh of relief as the GB Pant Hospital, ANIIMS (A&N Islands Institute of Medical Sciences) in Port Blair is hosting a three-day Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula Creation Camp from July 19 to 21, 2023. This initiative aims to offer essential medical services locally, saving patients from the hassle of traveling to the mainland for the procedure.
Before the organisation of this camp, patients requiring dialysis in A&N Islands had to travel to the mainland to get an AV Fistula created. However, with the advent of this medical camp, such patients can now avail the service at GB Pant Hospital itself, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming journeys.
ANIIMS has taken significant steps to ensure the success of this initiative. The hospital has invited skilled surgeons from hospitals empaneled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to perform AV Fistula creation surgeries for approximately 30 to 35 patients who have already been lined up for the procedure. By bringing specialised surgeons on board, the hospital aims to streamline the process and provide the best possible care for patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD).
One of the major benefits of this endeavour is the reduction of out-of-pocket expenditure for CKD patients. Previously, they had to bear the financial burden of traveling to the mainland for the AV Fistula creation procedure.
Moreover, hospital authorities have disclosed that they plan to make this camp a regular occurrence, subject to the number of patients requiring the service. In the future, trained surgeons for AV Fistula creation will be invited to GB Pant Hospital on a regular basis to perform the surgery, ensuring that patients can receive the necessary medical care without leaving the Islands.