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 raising concerns that have been told to pay $70 for each session whereas the dialysis was free at the Fiji National Kidney Centre.
Speaking to fijivillage, Jai Kumar of Laqere says he was accessing dialysis services for free at the Fiji National Kidney Centre and questions why the Health Ministry cannot pay for their treatment at the Kidney Foundation.
Kumar says they are not asking for anything extra and are only urging the Ministry to make services free at the Kidney Foundation as well.
He says he needs dialysis twice every week and his monthly cost will be in excess of $700 if he takes into account the transportation cost.
Another patient who needs dialysis 3 times a week has told us that he will have to decrease the number of sessions because he cannot afford to pay for it.
He says he will ask the doctors if decreasing the sessions will have any health implications.
When questioned today, Dr Fong says 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.
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