KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health has directed the concerned hospitals to implement the decision to make kidney dialysis for patients completely free.

Prior to this, the free service was available for only twice a week. Now, no fee will be charged for any number of dialysis service.

The Medical Service Division under the Ministry has sent a circular to the concerned hospitals to make the dialysis completely free.

There are currently 32 hospitals across the country that are providing free dialysis service for the kidney patients.

The Ministry has also allocated necessary budget for the hospitals to purchase the required dialysis machines to implement the latest directive.

A patient suffering from kidney failure has to undergo dialysis for at least three times a week, until the kidney transplantation is carried out, according to Director of the Human Organ Transplantation Centre, Dr Pukar Chandra Shrestha.

The dialysis service otherwise would cost Rs. 2,500 everytime.