Shillong: In a significant step toward improving healthcare accessibility in Meghalaya, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Indian Oil), in collaboration with Fairfax India Charitable Foundation and the Meghalaya Government, to provide six haemodialysis machines under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program (PMNDP).
The partnership was formalized through a tripartite agreement signed in Guwahati, aiming to address the critical shortage of dialysis facilities in rural and underserved areas of Meghalaya.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a growing public health concern in India, with over 1.3 million patients requiring haemodialysis two to three times a week. However, the country faces a severe shortage of haemodialysis machines, with only 35,000 machines available against a national requirement of over 200,000.
For rural patients, the annual cost of dialysis, estimated at ₹2.4 lakh, coupled with travel and accommodation expenses, often makes access to treatment financially and logistically unfeasible.
Meghalaya faces even greater challenges, as many districts lack sufficient haemodialysis facilities. Existing centers are overburdened, and the state’s rugged terrain further complicates access to urban healthcare services.
This initiative will benefit patients in districts such as East Garo Hills and Ri Bhoi, aiming to reduce patient drop-offs due to logistical challenges, lower mortality rates, and create employment opportunities in the healthcare sector.
Udit Jain, Chief General Manager (HRD & ER), Indian Oil, emphasized the significance of the collaboration saying that the partnership exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration in tackling critical healthcare issues. By decentralizing haemodialysis services, they shared their commitment to bringing life-saving care to underserved communities across the region.
Echoing similar sentiments, Hitajit Bhattacharyya, Chief General Manager (Human Resource), Guwahati Refinery, Indian Oil, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative.
Bhattacharyya informed that the goal is to bridge the healthcare gap in the Northeast. Indian Oil’s contribution of six haemodialysis machines is aimed to strengthen efforts to bring essential dialysis services closer to underserved communities and significantly improve health outcomes.
This initiative hopes to provide a lifeline to patients in Meghalaya who previously had no viable options for this life-saving service.