SINGAPORE - A dialysis clinic is to be set up in a community centre for the first time in Singapore.

The Seck Hong Choon - NKF Dialysis Centre will be a part of the upgraded Toa Payoh West Community Club (TPWCC) by 2020 and have at least 20 dialysis machines.

The centre is a collaboration between the People's Association (PA), Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (KMSPKS) and National Kidney Foundation (NKF), who signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday (Oct 2).

KMSPKS presented the NKF with $1.4million as a donation for setting up the centre. The donation will be matched by a government grant to cover both the costs of renovation and equipment.

Given that Singapore's elderly population is growing rapidly along with increasing rates of diabetes, hypertension and obesity, the number of kidney patients in Singapore looks set to rise.

Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Health, and Communications & Information, who attended the signing, said: "We must expect that the number of people in Singapore who will get diabetes in Singapore and who will suffer from complications will rise.

"Bishan-Toa Payoh is an ageing estate, we have a lot of seniors here and for many of them who need dialysis services we do have existing services in Toa Payoh Lorong 8.

"We do need to provide for the future and ensure that we have sufficient capacity to meet the needs of our residents."

The NKF currently supports over 4,000 patients in its 31 dialysis centres islandwide, which are operating at almost full capacity.