State dialysis services under spotlight
Namibia's health minster Kalumbi Shangula, has announced that the ministry is working hard to overcome the hurdle of limited access to dialysis treatment in state hospitals and plans to deploy new dialysis units across the country.
Shangula was responding to concerns aired by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Reggie Diergaardt, who said there are hundreds of state patients in Namibia who require kidney dialysis but have limited access to state services.
Diergaardt asked the minister to clarify how the state will provide for those in need who do not have private medical care.
He also asked what would happen to a patient who is already receiving kidney dialysis but turns 60 years old before completing the treatment.
"Will the state discontinue the dialysis, and how will the patient afford the dialysis?" Diergaardt asked.
Late kidney diagnosis
Shangula said chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition in the country and is often linked to chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, among others.
He said patients are often unaware of the condition until a very late stage, when it is no longer possible to halt the progression or reverse the condition.
"It unfortunately progresses over time, and many patients invariably end up with end-stage kidney disease, requiring renal replacement therapy. The options available to treat end stage kidney disease are kidney transplant and dialysis," he explained.
Without directly addressing Diergaardt’s concerns, Shangula acknowledge the concerns and admitted that the ministry relies on private sector contracts to supplement its limited capacity in providing specialised services such as dialysis.
"Such specialised services include the provision of dialysis. The private providers for dialysis are mainly in the urban centres, such as Windhoek, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop and Ongwediva," he said.
There are also limited dialysis services at Windhoek Central Hospital and at Oshakati State Hospital, he said.
Plans underway
Shangula added that in line with the targets of the Harambee Prosperity Plan, government intends to establish public sector dialysis units at Windhoek Central, Oshakati Intermediate as well as at Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Rundu and Katima Mulilo state hospitals.
He said the ministry is implementing a nationwide dialysis programme.
"In the immediate term, steps have been taken to create dialysis capacity. Four dialysis chairs are included for installation with the extension of the Katutura Intermediate Hospital TB unit," Shangula said.
Speaking to Namibian Sun, he said that in the past, most state patients with kidney disease were sent home because dialysis was offered primarily to those with acute kidney conditions.
However, Shangula said he was pleased that progress has been made and that the ministry is doing its best to establish dialysis units at all regional state hospitals.
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Shangula was responding to concerns aired by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Reggie Diergaardt, who said there are hundreds of state patients in Namibia who require kidney dialysis but have limited access to state services.
Diergaardt asked the minister to clarify how the state will provide for those in need who do not have private medical care.
He also asked what would happen to a patient who is already receiving kidney dialysis but turns 60 years old before completing the treatment.
"Will the state discontinue the dialysis, and how will the patient afford the dialysis?" Diergaardt asked.
Late kidney diagnosis
Shangula said chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common condition in the country and is often linked to chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, among others.
He said patients are often unaware of the condition until a very late stage, when it is no longer possible to halt the progression or reverse the condition.
"It unfortunately progresses over time, and many patients invariably end up with end-stage kidney disease, requiring renal replacement therapy. The options available to treat end stage kidney disease are kidney transplant and dialysis," he explained.
Without directly addressing Diergaardt’s concerns, Shangula acknowledge the concerns and admitted that the ministry relies on private sector contracts to supplement its limited capacity in providing specialised services such as dialysis.
"Such specialised services include the provision of dialysis. The private providers for dialysis are mainly in the urban centres, such as Windhoek, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop and Ongwediva," he said.
There are also limited dialysis services at Windhoek Central Hospital and at Oshakati State Hospital, he said.
Plans underway
Shangula added that in line with the targets of the Harambee Prosperity Plan, government intends to establish public sector dialysis units at Windhoek Central, Oshakati Intermediate as well as at Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund, Rundu and Katima Mulilo state hospitals.
He said the ministry is implementing a nationwide dialysis programme.
"In the immediate term, steps have been taken to create dialysis capacity. Four dialysis chairs are included for installation with the extension of the Katutura Intermediate Hospital TB unit," Shangula said.
Speaking to Namibian Sun, he said that in the past, most state patients with kidney disease were sent home because dialysis was offered primarily to those with acute kidney conditions.
However, Shangula said he was pleased that progress has been made and that the ministry is doing its best to establish dialysis units at all regional state hospitals.
– [email protected]
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