Bringing Kidney Care Closer to the People of Balochistan
By Rakhshanda Saba
Access to timely and quality healthcare remains one of the most important challenges for people living in remote and geographically dispersed areas of Balochistan. In this context, the activation of a dialysis centre in District Ziarat under the Chief Minister Initiatives marks an important step towards bringing specialised healthcare services closer to patients suffering from kidney diseases.
Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar said that 28 dialysis centres have now been established across Balochistan for patients suffering from kidney-related diseases. The initiative reflects an effort to expand specialised healthcare services beyond major urban centres and provide patients with essential treatment facilities closer to their homes.
For kidney patients, access to dialysis is not a one-time medical requirement. Those requiring regular dialysis often have to travel repeatedly to distant cities, placing an additional financial, physical and emotional burden on patients and their families. In a province where communities are separated by long distances and difficult terrain, such travel can become a major obstacle to continuity of treatment.
The activation of the dialysis centre in Ziarat is therefore significant for the local population. Patients can now receive dialysis and other necessary medical services within their district instead of travelling to distant urban centres. This can help reduce travel-related difficulties while improving access to regular treatment.
According to the provincial health minister, the government is also working to establish and activate additional dialysis centres in the remaining districts by the end of the current year. The ongoing expansion is aimed at ensuring that specialised healthcare facilities are gradually made available to communities that have historically faced difficulties in accessing such services.
The importance of this approach extends beyond the establishment of physical healthcare facilities. Effective healthcare delivery requires services to be accessible, functional and available when patients need them. For people living in remote areas, a functioning medical facility within reasonable reach can make a substantial difference in maintaining continuity of treatment.
The expansion of dialysis services also represents a broader shift towards strengthening district-level healthcare. When specialised services are available closer to communities, patients can spend less time and resources travelling and more time receiving the treatment they require. It can also reduce pressure on major hospitals in larger cities.
Balochistan’s geographical realities make decentralisation of healthcare services particularly important. A healthcare system that reaches district and remote populations can contribute to more equitable access to medical care and help address disparities between urban and rural communities.
The establishment and activation of dialysis centres should therefore be viewed as part of a wider effort to improve healthcare delivery across the province. Alongside infrastructure, sustained attention to medical staff, equipment, medicines, maintenance and quality of care will remain essential to ensuring that these facilities continue to serve patients effectively.
The activation of the Ziarat dialysis centre and the establishment of 28 centres across Balochistan represent a practical effort to bring kidney care closer to those who need it. The planned expansion to the remaining districts by the end of the year, as stated by the provincial health minister, could further strengthen access to essential treatment and help ensure that geographical distance does not become a barrier to receiving necessary healthcare.