Kalyan: Dialysis at KDMC centres to cost more than private hospitals?

KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) proposed dialysis centres have run into controversey before they could even be set up, over the proposed tariff plan. KDMC has shortlisted two healthcare centres to set up two new dialysis centres on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Activists are worried about this, because while KDMC will provide space and water services free of cost to the centres for a 10-year period, the centres will not offer any subsidised rates for patients.KDMC also plans to put up a proposal before the general body meeting to waive property tax for these two centres.
Activists said that private hospitals in the Kalyan-Dombivli belt charge Rs 800-1500 per patient for dialysis, and the planning documents for the KDMC centres say that the minimum price would be Rs 1,290 per patient.
One centre is planned at Tisgaon in Kalyan and will be spread over 4500 sq ft, while the other one of 5,100 sq ft is planned at Kumbharpada in Dombivli.
Sena corporator Mallesh Shetty had raised a question about the the dialysis charges in the house, prompting mayor Vinita Rane to put the proposal on hold for a discussion with the centres. He said, "It is a clearcut courruption case. If patients in city's private hospitals can get their dialysis at Rs 800-1500, then what is the meaning of giving space and free water to these two centres that are charging similar rates or even higher than some private hospitals in the city?"
The cash-strapped KDMC is using the PPP model so that no projects are stuck and new facilities can be provided to people at a minimum cost. KDMC had thus floated tenders and selected the two centres last month.
Dialysis is primarily for people with renal failure. It is the process for removing urea and other waste and excess water from the blood.