The $3.5m subsidy for Kidney Dialysis in the budget comes as a relief for Fijians in need of treatment.
The Consumer Council says they found out that a kidney patient in Viti Levu needs a minimum of $39,000 a year to survive whereas another in Vanua Levu needs $23,400.
Chief executive, Premila Kumar says the new life-saving subsidy will greatly reduce dialysis costs.
Economy Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says dialysis treatment will be expanded in the new financial year and it will be made more affordable.
“We’ve allocated $2m to make four dialysis machines available at the facility in Suva and three more available in Nadi which will provide dialysis treatment for $150 per session to the public. That’s going to drive down prices generally for treatment and that’s going to save lives. And for Fijians with annual household incomes below $30,000, government will also subsidize half the cost of treatment with an allocation of $3.5m.”
The announcement will bring relief to many who are in need of dialysis treatment.
