SINGAPORE - The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is planning to open its largest ever dialysis centre in Corporation Road, which will have 200 dialysis stations and capacity for nearly 2,000 patients.

Plans for the new $12 million centre were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the opening of NKF's newest centre in Jurong West, which is also the first to offer night-time dialysis.

It was set up with the donation of $2.2 million from the Sirivadhanabhakdi Foundation in Thailand.

While typical dialysis sessions last four hours, these nocturnal sessions last six to eight hours, and are easier on the body as they clear toxins at a much slower rate.

This means that patients are able to eat a less restrictive diet, and are at a lower risk of getting heart attacks.

Having a night shift for dialysis also means that some patients might find it easier to find work.

The NKF's five existing dialysis centres in the west of Singapore are already operating at close to full capacity. On average, one Singaporean comes down with kidney failure every five hours.

Mr Tharman said that the new, larger centre to be set up in the future will go beyond simply providing standard haemodialysis. It will also support patients who wish to do peritoneal dialysis, as well as providing other kidney-related outpatient services.