Dialysis patients say they will have to limit their sessions if they cannot pay for treatment

Dialysis patients who are now receiving treatment at the Kidney Foundation of Fiji following the temporary closure of the Dialysis Unit at the Fiji National Kidney Centre in Nadera are saying they will have no option but to limit their sessions if they are required to pay for their dialysis.

Each dialysis session costs $70.

Lilam Nandani of Narere has told Legend FM News that she requires dialysis 3 times a week and can only afford to pay for another 3 weeks.

Nandani says if the Fiji National Kidney Centre does not re-open by then, she will either have to look for funds elsewhere or decrease her dialysis sessions.

She says in addition to this, her taxi fare is now $30 per day compared to just $12 when she was travelling to Nadera.

Another patient, Anita Devi of Tamavua says she was receiving dialysis 3 times a week at the Fiji National Kidney Centre however they have decided to only go for 2 sessions now because she cannot afford to pay.

Devi says they already have to pay rent and with the rising cost of living, dialysis cost puts extra burden on her family.

She says it would be a huge relief if the Ministry pays for their treatment.

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong had said on Monday that they have so far identified 6 patients who are accessing services at Kidney Foundation of Fiji and cannot pay extra costs for treatment.

He says they have arranged for eligible patients to get treatment at no cost at the Kidney Foundation by providing the needed consumables from Nadera.

Dr Fong adds the Government has organized for the financial support of individual patients where necessary.

He also says they have organized for an engineer from Australia to arrive next week to do necessary repairs and provide training.

We have also asked Dr Fong why the Ministry cannot pay for the patients who used to access free services at Fiji National Kidney Centre before it’s closure. He is yet to respond.