Premier Brian Pallister announced on Monday March 18, 2019 that the provincial government will be investing $5.2 million towards dialysis services.
The investment will be used to add an additional 62 hemodialysis spaces across renal health centres in Thompson (6), Winnipeg (30), Portage la Prairie (6), Hodgson (8), Pine Falls (6) and at Boundary Trails Health Centre (6) near Morden and Winkler.
“These investments will provide life-saving care to Manitobans in need, when and where they need it most. This includes Thompson, which will see in-centre dialysis expand to accommodate an additional six patients,” said Pallister
About 14% of Manitoba’s population lives with kidney disease with about a third developing kidney failure in their lifetime. Hemodialysis uses a machine that is connected to the patients to remove toxins. The machine removes the patient’s blood, cleans it and returns it to their body.
In addition to new spaces within renal treatment centres, the funding will also see an increase for patients in the peritoneal dialysis program with an additional 10-patient peritoneal dialysis expansion in Winnipeg. Peritoneal dialysis uses a fluid that is cycled through a tube in and out of a patients stomach to get rid of waste and fluids.
The funding will also add 30 nurses along with 27 other positions including health care aids, social services, pharmacy, technologists, maintenance and administrative support.
The medical director of Manitoba’s Renal Program, Dr. Mauro Verrelli, says that kidney failure rates continue to rise in the province.
“When possible, we want Manitobans to receive this vital treatment at home or as close to home as possible,” said Verrelli.
