The establishment of a National Kidney Research and Treatment Centre which will be the hub for kidney health services in Fiji is well in progress where the main centre and its satellite units is expected to be ready within the next three months.
The Ministry of Health revealed in a statement that the centre, which is one of its kind will set the benchmark for the enhancement of kidney health services in the Pacific and will be led by Dr Amrish Krishnan who is a Fijian Specialist Nephrologist, currently based at the CWM Hospital as Consultant and Head of Nephrology Department.
Dr Krishan thanked government for its commitment in leading the progressive changes in development of kidney health services in Fiji.
He says that Fiji has made significant improvements in delivery of kidney health.
Dr Krishan says they wanted the right model to provide long term dialysis treatment and after discussions with government and stakeholders, they felt that the best way forward is to set up a publicly run chronic dialysis service, with the objective to set up an institute which addresses kidney health and not just dialysis.
He says the 2018‑2019 budget has an allocation of $5.5 million for the kidney health services where $3.5 million will go towards subsiding dialysis costs while $2 million will be used for capital development that includes establishment of the National Kidney Research Treatment Centre and purchase of equipment and consumables
Dr Krishnan says the National Kidney Research and Treatment Centre will be the national hub for kidney health services, but will support its affiliated units in the west and in Labasa via monthly outreach programs.
Patients with household incomes of less than $30,000 per annum, will be able to access haemodialysis at $75 per session whereas those earning above $30,000 will be paying $150 per session.
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