About 900 kidney patients unable to access dialysis treatment in Fiji

About 900 kidney patients are unable to access dialysis treatment in Fiji.

The Director of the Kidney Research and Treatment Center, Doctor Amrish Krishnan says that at the moment 100 patients are on dialysis nationally but in terms of the incidence of the disease a total of 1,000 patients are expected to be on dialysis.

He says that the number means that 90% of patients are unable to access dialysis and therefore it is important for people in the medical fraternity to understand how to take care of these patients.

Doctor Krishnan told Fijivillage that even after reducing the cost of dialysis some patients are still unable to afford the cost and their responsibility is to make sure that these patients are not neglected.

He says that the 2017-2018 allocated budget toward Kidney Dialysis is of great help but there is a need for more funding as they are also wanting to get facilities to help people with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Doctor Krishnan says $1 million is allocated by the government for kidney dialysis.

Doctor Krishnan has also highlighted that adequate education and counseling is provided to patients so that they know what stages to expect as they advance further with the disease.