Facts and Figures
In East Africa, the cost of dialysis treatment can vary greatly depending on the country, clinic, and level of service. Below is an overview of key data and figures.
In South Africa, the cost per dialysis treatment typically ranges between 250 USD and 500 USD, depending on the country, clinic, and level of services.
In other parts of East Africa, such as Kenya or Tanzania, the prices are often lower but usually fall between 100 USD and 300 USD per treatment.
Dialysis patients usually require approximately three treatments per week, which brings annual treatment costs into the tens of thousands of USD.
Public or subsidized facilities may offer discounts or social support, while private clinics generally charge higher prices.
In certain programs, cross-subsidization is sometimes practiced, meaning wealthier patients help cover costs for those with fewer financial means.
Overall, dialysis treatments in East Africa are significantly less expensive than in Western countries, but they are still costly and not consistently accessible to many patients.
In countries with well-established social insurance systems, such as Austria, statutory health insurance covers the majority of dialysis treatment costs. Both material costs and medical care are typically covered by the insurance, which pays fees directly to dialysis centers and physicians. In contrast, social systems in East Africa are often less developed, so public payers frequently cover only a small portion of the costs or are often not involved at all.
Private insurance is less common in Africa but may cover part or most of the treatment costs depending on the contract. Those with private or supplemental insurance often receive significant reimbursement for dialysis treatments.
Many patients in African countries have to pay large parts of dialysis costs themselves, either directly or through their private health expenditures. This financial burden is often very high and represents a major barrier to receiving necessary treatment.
International development agencies such as DEG or the World Bank, as well as NGOs and church organizations, often engage in the establishment of dialysis centers in lower-income countries. With their support, investments, ongoing operating costs, and in many cases also treatment costs for patients can be significantly reduced.
Employers or special funds can sometimes pay treatment costs, for example if dialysis is required for occupational reasons. Social welfare programs or government grants may also provide additional support. Donations and charitable initiatives further help to provide access to dialysis for those in need.
A large share of the costs is typically borne by the patients themselves.
Public payers often provide partial subsidies, but these are frequently small.
Support from NGOs and international donors is important for affordable care.
Dialysis treatment usually takes around 4-5 hours.
Patients generally require around 3 sessions per week.
If, for example, 3 shifts per day (morning, afternoon, evening) are run, each dialysis station can treat up to 3 patients per day.
With 10 dialysis stations, this corresponds to up to 30 treatments per shift and a total of 90 treatments when operating continuously in all three shifts.
In practice, 2-3 shifts are often common, so that around 40-60 treatments per day are realistic.
This capacity may vary depending on equipment, staff availability, and patient needs.
For a dialysis center that aims to treat at least 30 patients daily, especially high standards of hygiene and water treatment must be met, as water quality is crucial for the safety and effectiveness of dialysis.
Water Treatment
Advanced water treatment systems are necessary to convert drinking water into dialysis-quality water.
These systems usually consist of several stages: pre-filtration, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and disinfection.
The capacity of the systems must cover at least the daily water consumption of 50 patients (roughly 500 to 700 liters per treatment).
Regular laboratory and hygiene controls of the water are legally required, including microbiological and chemical analyses, to ensure safety and compliance with standards.
Hygiene Technology
The premises and surfaces should be equipped with easily disinfectable, hygienic materials such as seamless flooring.
Water pipes and connections must be protected against biofilm formation and bacterial contamination.
Cleaning and disinfection protocols for all devices and surfaces after each treatment are mandatory.
Thermal and/or chemical disinfection of dialysis machines is required.
Additional Points
Antimicrobial surfaces and contactless operation of taps or dispensers enhance hygiene.
Staff must receive thorough training to adhere to hygiene standards.
The facility should be certified in line with national and international dialysis standards.These measures ensure effective infection prevention, patient safety, and compliance with recognized healthcare regulations
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