Zimbabwe: No Money, No Survival for Renal Patients

Zimbabwe: No Money, No Survival for Renal Patients

Paidamoyo Chipunza

29 July 2009

Harare — For renal patient Mr Kufakunesu Muradzikwa, the Government's partnership with Fresenius Medical Care of South Africa that has resulted in the installation of 14 dialysis machines at Harare's Parirenyatwa Hospital is the elimination of one of two big problems plaguing those with kidney ailments.

Over the years, accessing the machines was a nightmare, while paying for the service was an even bigger headache. Presently, a single dialysis session costs US$80 and with patients required to go for at least two sessions per week, those with kidney problems need to fork out US$160 weekly for the rest of their lives or until they get an organ donor.

"The cost is just too much taking into consideration what most of us are earning. "For years, we have been crying for affordable and accessible services, but it's falling on deaf ears," said Mr Muradzikwa.

"Nothing has materialised from all the promises they made to us. We are a forgotten lot. No money, no survival." The Government has entered into an arrangement with Fresenius Medical Care where the latter has installed and will maintain 14 dialysis machines at the country's largest renal unit.

The machines are already in use, but are operating as a private service and patients have to pay the US$80 per session. However, the Government has moved to reassure renal patients like Mr Muradzikwa that a subsidy system for dialysis sessions will ease their financial burdens.

Secretary for Health and Child Welfare Dr Gerald Gwinji yesterday said his ministry had made available "a substantial amount" of money to Parirenyatwa Hospital to assist those who cannot afford the costs of a dialysis session.

Dr Gwinji would, however, not be drawn into revealing the figure saying this would be done only when all modalities had been factored. The arrangement, which Dr Gwinji said for the meantime was for Parirenyatwa Hospital only, will see patients paying different amounts in line with their capacity to meet the normal US$80 charge.

"There are mechanisms in place and with the assistance from social welfare, people will be assessed according to their ability to pay, which means there will not be a uniform figure," Dr Gwinji said. He promised that the ministry would provide more funds once the present subsidy facility was exhausted.

According to information at hand, after carrying out individual assessments, the Government would determine how much each patient could pay. The State would then pay whatever shortfall remained directly to Fresenius Medical Care.

Dr Gwinji said there were plans to have a similar arrangement at other public health institutions countrywide. Renal failure is when one or both kidneys stop functioning and the patient has to go through an artificial process called haemodialysis to remove toxic body waste, including urine and free water, from the blood.

If the waste is not removed the patient dies. Fresenius Medical Care export manager Mr Thulani Manqele, however, said dialysis costs in Zimbabwe were "reasonable" compared to other countries in the region.

"We empathise with them that this is the situation but there is no country in the region that is offering free dialysis services. "Actually, Zimbabwe has reasonable charges compared to other countries," he said.

He cited Zambia where patients are required to part with US$100 per session. "If a Government can further subsidise the current costs, then that's fine, but I can tell you that the US$80 is already subsidised.

"In fact, patients used to travel to South Africa to access such medical services and this cost much more," he said. The renal care provider will install three more machines to bring the number at Parirenytwa to 17.

"We are only bringing the service closer to the people but the machines belong to Fresenius. Let me emphasise that Parirenyatwa is not going to get a cent from bringing this service," said Parirenyatwa chief executive officer Dr Thomas Zigora.

Dr Zigora said staff from the renal unit would undergo training on handling the new state-of-the-art machines from next week.

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