KATHMANDU: The Bir Hospital since January 1 has started providing dialysis service to patients suffering from kidney failure round-the-clock.

Hospital Director Dr Bhupendra Basnet said that the dialysis service, which was being provided only in the day time, would now be available for 24 hours a day.

As many as 28 kidney failure patients can get the service every day against the 14 prior to the new service, said Director Basnet.

Although the Hospital started providing dialysis service 25 years ago, new patients were compelled to visit other hospitals as the hospital lacked enough resources and equipment for the service.

Basnet said, "The Hospital started providing the dialysis service for 24 hours a day with an objective of providing more services to the patients and to make sure that no patient returns empty-handed."

Health Minister Gagan Thapa had recently directed hospitals to increase the time for dialysis service across the nation.

Currently, 42 patients undergo regular dialysis at the Hospital a week.

The government has made the dialysis service completely free of cost from this year.

Bir Hospital is the first government hospital providing the dialysis service for 24 hours a day.