The Doobay’s Medical and Research Centre has reduced the cost of kidney dialysis while continuing to seek donations to subsidise the cost of the treatment.
On Friday, a representative from the centre, which is located at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, told this newspaper that the centre receives funds raised by religious groups, which cover the expenses of the treatment or help with partial fee coverage for some patients. However, owing to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the funders are not raising as much money to help the chronic kidney disease patients who receive treatment at the centre. As a result, the centre has opted to subsidise the cost of treatment for some patients over the last three months. The cost has been reduced from $12,000 to $8,000 and $9,000 to $6,000 for some of the patients.
Dialysis at the Doobay’s dialysis centre is considered to be the least expensive in the country. Although treatment costs have been reduced significantly, the centre is still appealing for donations from individuals or other groups that want to assist.
Just last month, Dr Budhendra Doobay, who heads the centre, made an appeal for donations. Video footage showing the patients as they expressed despondency about their financial situation was uploaded to Facebook to increase public awareness of the dire situation. Dr Doobay could also be seen pleading with persons for donations.
As of 2011, the not-for-profit centre has worked toward providing dialysis treatment for patients who cannot afford to have it done at private facilities. The treatment is necessary for patients suffering from renal failure to allow them to continue living a somewhat normal life and it is done at least three times a week. Donations can be made by contacting the centre by email at doobayrenal@gmail.com, Facebook at http://www.guyanadialysisclinic.com/ or its website http://www.guyanadialysisclinic.com
