Tanzania plans to slash kidney dialysis cost to 90,000/-

The GOVERNMENT is planning to reduce the cost of kidney dialysis from the current 350,000/- to 90,000/-, lawmakers told in Dodoma on Monday.

According to www. nhs.uk, dialysis is a a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly.

The exercise involves diverting blood to a machine to be cleaned.

The move, according to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Godwin Mollel, aims to make the service affordable for every Tanzanian.

He said the Ministry’s top officials have contemplated cutting the cost to between 90,000/- and 150,000/-.

He gave the explanations to MPs when he was reacting to a Special Seat lawmaker Lucy Sabu’s supplementary question sought to know the Government’s plan to reduce the cost of undergoing dialysis for the low income earners to afford.

“Until yesterday [Sunday] through this budget that we are presenting now, we were looking at two things. Our Minister [Ummy Mwalimu] was looking at the mother and child and this [dialysis].
“We have found out that instead of 350,000/-, there is a possibility that someone will get the service at between 90,000/- and 150,000/-, so we have a plan to lower these costs,” Dr Mollel told the Parliament.

Regarding the exemption of the treatment, he said that if the needy has a letter from your ward executive it is possible to be exempted.

Earlier, the Deputy Minister explained to the MPs that the service is currently available at various hospitals in the country including the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), regional and regional referral hospitals as well as the University of Dodoma.