LALITPUR: Haemodialysis and neurology unit at Patan Hospital was inaugurated today. Health officials said it was the first dialysis centre of the kind at a public hospital.The unit would be open for patients in a month and one would be charged Rs 800-1000 for a dialysis.

Ram Babu Tiwari, former president Nepal China Association had donated Rs 5 million for the establishment of the unit. Likewise, Nepal German Health Association has availed five haemodialysis machines for the unit.

Jim and Marilyn Simon from Nick Simon's Institute had provided other support.

According to National Kidney Centre, there are over 2,700 new cases of kidney failure across the country and over 2.7 million people have some kind of kidney ailment. The data further revealed that there were 19,118 kidney patients in fiscal year 2007/2008, 16,015 patients in 2006/2007 and 12,663 patients in the year 2005/2006.

Speaking at the function, Qiu Guohong, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal assured that China would increase financial assistance in the health sector.

He said that China was committed toward the development of health sector in Nepal.

Speaking on the same occasion, Dr Sudha Sharma, secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, lamented that doctors were unwilling to serve at remote areas of the country.