Coimbatore, Oct.28: As many as 140 patients with kidney stone issues were benefited by Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripter (ESWL) treatment in Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) till date, Dr.R.Soundravel, Resident Medical Officer, CMCH, told the SimpliCity.
ESWL was introduced in CMCH in December 2016. Kidney stone patients in the city are able to avail of a less painful treatment in CMCH by the new method of ESWL. This method uses shock wave to break down the kidney stones in a second. The stone then painlessly comes out through the urine.
A patient treated using ESWL does not require hospitalization. “Before ESWL open surgery was performed to remove the stones of kidney. This procedure requires at least two weeks of hospitalization But, in ESWL, the patient can return to his normal life the very the next day itself,” said Dr.Soundravel.
CMCH authorities said the equipment costs Rs.3 crore. Kidney stone removal treatment at private hospitals, which cost up to Rs.40,000, costs only Rs.5,000 in CMCH.
"In CMCH the treatments are very good and charges are also very low when compared to private hospitals. This is a great chance for the middle class people to utilise this opportunity. Under the Chief Minister's Health Scheme it is totally free for patients who have health insurance card,” he added.
ESWL is already available in Chennai and Madurai Government hospitals. The patients here, who commended the initiative of the hospital to get this equipment here, were not happy that it would cost Rs.5,000. “Health and Family Welfare Department should consider this and take steps to reduce the charges for this ESWL method to Rs.2,000. The fee collected now might be affordable for the middle class people but it is not possible for the poor people to pay so much,” said G.Kathir, a patient's relative.
Patients in the Nilgiris, Tiruppur and Erode Government hospitals are referred to CMCH to get ESWL treatment. “The CMCH gets hundreds of out patients everyday. This is because patients are referred to CMCH by the Nilgiris, Tiruppur and Erode District Government hospitals. This type of method and infrastructure should be developed in these hospitals also so that the patients will get treatment in their domicile districts,” said K.Kuppuraj, a social activist.