New dialysis centre for the poor

NST: SEREMBAN: Kidney patients from lower-income groups have been given a lifeline with the setting up of a new dialysis centre for the poor here.
The RM2 million centre, to be managed by the Seremban Hindu Mayana Sangam and Koperasi Serbaguna Negri Sembilan Berhad, is expected to begin operations in September.
Koperasi Serbaguna director M. Muthuraman said the centre in Jalan Rasah would have 10 dialysis machines, including four donated by the state government.
The number of machines will be increased to 24 in the future.
"Our services will be cheaper as we want to help the poor," Muthuraman said at a fund-raising dinner at Tafe college here on Saturday night.
Present were state executive councillor Datuk Zakaria Nor-din and Koperasi Serbaguna and Sangam chairman Datuk M. Muthuppalaniappan.
All profits would be channelled to the centre, including buying more dialysis machines at a cost of RM40,000 a unit.
"There are many kidney patients who can’t afford dialysis treatment, even at a subsidised rate. As a result, many end up without any treatment," Muthuraman said.
Individuals and organisations are urged to donate so that more patients would be able to benefit from the centre’s services.