92% of families with kidney dialysis patients face financial hardship: BIDS

A recent study conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) reveals that 92% of families with kidney dialysis patients in Bangladesh face significant financial hardship to cover treatment costs. 

The study, titled "Out of Pocket of Kidney Dialysis in Bangladesh," was presented at the "Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2024" held in Dhaka today (9 December).

According to the findings, the average monthly cost of kidney dialysis in Bangladesh stands at Tk46,426, with the expenses ranging between Tk6,690 and Tk210,000. These costs impose a heavy burden on families, with more than 92% experiencing financial distress due to the high treatment fees.

Abdur Razzaque Sarkar, a research fellow at BIDS, presented the study's key findings during a session on education and health. He revealed that annual out-of-pocket costs for dialysis vary from Tk80,280 to Tk2,520,000. 

The study also highlighted that nearly 0.8 million patients in Bangladesh require dialysis, yet only 30,000 are able to access the life-saving treatment due to financial and logistical limitations.

The research identified that dialysis fees (35.3%) and medication costs (23%) are the largest contributors to the total treatment expenses. In total, medical costs account for 78.79% of the overall expenditure for kidney dialysis patients.

Explaining the importance of dialysis, doctors stated that the procedure is essential for patients whose kidney function has dropped to 10-15%. Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that removes waste and excess fluid from the blood. 

The study further revealed that nearly 90% of households with kidney dialysis patients face catastrophic health expenditures, and about 19.5% of patients receive fewer dialysis sessions than recommended. The financial strain is most severe for low-income households, with 30.21% of the poorest patients receiving fewer treatments due to high costs.

The study, which surveyed 477 hospitalised patients from public, private, and NGO healthcare facilities between November and December 2023, called for urgent reforms. Abdur Razzaque Sarkar urged the government to establish dialysis facilities in district hospitals and subsidise private hospital services to make the treatment more affordable. 

"Dialysis facilities must be made affordable for resource-poor households," Sarkar said. 

"Including kidney patients in safety net programmes and introducing insurance coverage for dialysis could reduce their financial strain," he added.

Sarkar also recommended the production of costly treatment drugs by state-owned pharmaceutical companies and suggested increasing budget allocations to shield families from financial shocks due to high treatment costs.