Curley eyes dialysis for Rankin, Iqaluit

Nunavut may soon start providing dialysis services in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit, according to comments made in the legislature March 23 by Health Minister Tagak Curley.

Dialysis, a process that cleanses the blood of impurities by passing it through a special machine, is required by people whose kidneys can’t do the job anymore.

Right now, any Nunavummiut requiring dialysis treatment, which can take up many hours several times a week, must move outside Nunavut.

Curley said his department is currently studying Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet.

“Perhaps if these centres had these dialysis machines available, it may alleviate the demands but… that may not be the only factor. We have to take into consideration as we would need qualified technicians and funding,” Curley said.

Curley hinted that there could be news at the Nunavut legislature’s June session about a plan to offer dialysis in Nunavut.

An initial assessment shows this become “reality in the short term,” Curley told Johnny Ningeongan, MLA for Nanulik.

“We are currently extremely busy with the details around the acquisition of these machines if we were to offer this service, especially in order to lessen the costs associated with long-term medical treatment trips and to decrease the number of days outside,” Curley told him.

In Coral Harbour, and Chesterfield Inlet Ningeonan said there are some residents who are in Winnipeg, “some for a very long period for medical reasons because of the lack of facilities or services in Nunavut.”