Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Patients seek to cut dialysis costs

Home National Patients seek to cut dialysis costs
Patients seek to cut dialysis costs

Aletta Shikololo

Patients living with kidney conditions and who receive life-saving dialysis have appealed to the authorities to establish more facilities in the regions. 

The patients say they were sounding an alarm about an overlooked crisis. “Some patients travel long distances to Windhoek to access life-saving dialysis treatment,” said a family member of a patient living with a kidney condition and who requested not to be named. A group of concerned patients complained that those from regions with no dialysis facilities are forced to move or travel to towns where there are such centres, compromising on their work, families, and other issues of importance. 

“While we appreciate current dialysis scheduled programmes for us to attend, we access these services at a huge cost,” complained another patient from Gobabis, adding he has not been at his house for two years due to monetary reasons as he had to undergo dialysis centres three days a week in Windhoek. 

Another patient from Keetmanshoop, who has been on dialysis treatment for three years now, said he is also financially burdened and is forced to take loans to cover his transport funds to and from Windhoek every week. These patients made a desperate call for the government to come to their rescue, adding that it would be within the proximity to reach out and not live in the current limitations or isolation which can compromise both on their health status and family commitments. In an interview with New Era, the patients argued that they are left in the cold and their concerns are not prioritised.

 “We are suffering. Kidney failure is as deadly as any other disease and it requires good medical attention. If only we had an association that provides support as best possible to help prevent and promote better treatment options of this disease.” 
The dialysis services are offered in Khomas, Oshana and Kavango East regions, while the state makes use of private service providers in other regions. 

Approached for comment, health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe acknowledged the concerns of the patients, saying the matter is being taken care of. 

“We are aware of that issue, but the matter is not just about setting up equipment, it requires trained personnel and at the moment we do not have sufficient trained personnel,” said Nangombe. He added the state uses the private dialysis services and the government covers the costs through the special fund of the health ministry. 
– ashikololo@nepc.com.na