New Delhi, April 8: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, lodged at the Cardio-Neuro Tower at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), is undergoing dialysis, hospital officials confirmed on Sunday.

The kidney transplant of Jaitley would be conducted next week, the authorities said. The 65-year-old is likely to remain on dialysis for a couple of days - a regular practice in cases of kidney transplant.

The patients are kept on dialysis to ensure the blood gets detoxified as the kidney turns dysfunctional. Although it is not clear how long Jaitley would remain on dialysis, sources said the renal transplant could be conducted any day in the forthcoming week.

Jaitley had been working since the past 10 days under a restricted environment from the Cardio-Neuro Tower at AIIMS. On Friday, he was declared admitted and has remained under observation since. Tests were conducted over the last couple of days on him and the donor, whose identity has been kept secret.

Jaitley's close friends along with family members, however, met him in the VVIP area of AIIMS on Saturday. In a statement issued to news agency ANI, he said, "I am being treated for kidney related problems and certain infections that I have contracted. The future course of my treatment would be determined by the doctors treating me."

The medical team who would conduct the medical transplant will be headed by Sandeep Guleria, a specialist from Apollo Hospitals and brother of AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria.

Leaders cutting across party lines, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Conference's Omar Abdullah and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal wished Jaitley a speedy recovery.

Jaitley had earlier been hospitalised in September 2014, when he underwent a bariatric surgery to reduce weight. The operation was necessitated as he is suffering from acute diabetes, which has reached an almost uncontrollable stage.

Jaitley is considered to be the second most important person in the Narendra Modi government, after the Prime Minister himself. He currently heads the portfolios of Finance and Corporate Affairs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 08, 2018 03:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).