LUCKNOW, May 17 -- Kidney patients in UP are being provided improved medical care, with dialysis facilities now available in all districts and efforts underway to facilitate transplants, deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said on Saturday. Addressing the 39th Foundation Day ceremony of the nephrology department at SGPGIMS, Pathak said around two lakh patients in India require either dialysis or a transplant every year. He said medical facilities for kidney patients had been strengthened and medical colleges were being established in various districts to ensure patients could access treatment closer to their homes. Pathak emphasised the need to raise awareness about organ donation, saying public participation was essential for the cause. "A single brain-dead individual can give a new lease of life to eight people through organ donation," he said. "Humanity will forever remain indebted to those families who, even in moments of profound grief, facilitate organ donation of their brain-dead loved ones," he added. The event was attended by Amit Kumar Ghosh, additional chief secretary, medical education; prof Radha Krishna Dhiman, director, SGPGI; prof Narayan Prasad, head of the department of nephrology; Dr Anupam Kaul; Dr Manas Ranjan Patel; and Dr Devendra Gupta. htc...