Make dialysis treatment more accessible

Dialysis is a long-term and expensive medical treatment. When the kidneys completely fail and a transplant is not possible, many patients have to undergo this treatment for the rest of their lives. It is an extremely physically painful process for the patient. When coupled with excessive costs, the level of suffering increases manifold. A recent survey reveals that 93 per cent of dialysis patients face financial crises due to the treatment.

This scenario has been highlighted in a study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). A report published in the media on Tuesday (December 10) mentions that a kidney patient in the country has to spend a minimum of 6,690 taka and a maximum of 210,000 taka monthly for dialysis. The average cost is 46,426 taka. Of this, the highest cost, around 35 per cent, is spent on dialysis fees. Nearly 23 per cent is spent on medication. In total, hospital expenses account for about 79 per cent of the overall costs. Additional expenses include transportation, food, accommodation, and informal payments (bribes, tips). Of these, transportation is the largest expense, making up nearly 9 per cent of the total cost.

Now, consider the situation of a low-income family. A family with a monthly income of 40,000 taka, living in a rented house in an urban area. After meeting daily expenses and providing for their children's education, how can they possibly allocate an additional seven to eight thousand taka for the treatment of a dialysis patient? Dialysis treatment is not available in all hospitals, and often, patients must travel to distant specialized hospitals. The transportation costs and other related expenses easily push the total expenditure to a minimum of 10 to 12 thousand taka. As a result, it is easy to imagine how severe the financial crisis becomes.

To save costs, many poor families reduce the frequency of dialysis sessions for the patient, which increases the patient’s suffering. According to the survey, 19 per cent of them do so. The reason cited is the high costs. Researchers, after talking to patients, have found that to escape the immense monthly financial burden, many attempt to undergo kidney transplants. In doing so, they often fall prey to fraudsters.

Although the cost of dialysis services at NGO-based hospitals is lower, it is more time-consuming and involves greater inconvenience. Moreover, NGO-based hospitals are not available everywhere. As a result, patients are often forced to seek treatment at government or private hospitals. Therefore, we urge that dialysis services be made more accessible and cost-effective in all government hospitals across the country. The number of kidney patients is increasing for various reasons, and it is also essential to raise awareness about kidney diseases.