Minister Parirenyatwa admits that dialysis is too expensive in Zimbabwe

Minister of Health and Child Care services David Parirenyatwa has admitted that the cost of dialysis is too high for the ordinary Zimbabwean. Dialysis which is used to treat patients with kidney problems costs an average of $80 per session in public hospitals and $240 per session in private hospitals. With patients needing at least 3 sessions per week this translates to $240 per week and $960 per month at public hospitals. At private hospitals, this would be $720 per week and $2 880 per month.

Speaking at the 12th annual commemoration of World Kidney Day at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare last week, Dr Parirenyatwa said:

Only 700 of the 1 000 cases recorded every year are on dialysis, leaving a huge gap in need.

Ten percent of the population worldwide is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is the third most rapidly increasing cause of global mortality. Worldwide, five million people are expected to be on dialysis by 2030.

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