Patients suffer as dialysis halted for 3-hr at kidney institute

Dozens of kidney patients were left in distress today after dialysis services at the National Institute of Kidney Diseases & Urology (NIKDU) were suspended for three hours by Sandor Dialysis Services Bangladesh Pvt Ltd. 

Indian company Sandor, a leading provider of kidney care in Bangladesh, halted operations from 12pm to 3pm over unpaid dues from the government amounting to Tk7.5 crore.

As a result, approximately 90 patients missed their scheduled dialysis treatments. On average, the kidney institute serves around 30 dialysis patients every hour. The sudden disruption has raised alarms about the continuity of life-sustaining care for patients with chronic kidney failure.

Sources said in 2015, Bangladesh awarded the Public Private Partnership contract to India's Sandor Medicaids to provide improved access to quality dialysis care for patients in the country. Since then, the company operates two major dialysis centers in Bangladesh, managing approximately 200 machines across Dhaka and Chattogram, including 70 machines in the capital alone.

Contacted, Dr Shamsunnahar, a consultant at Sandor, told TBS, "The government owes Sandor Tk7.5 crore for services rendered between July and December last year. The company used the funds to pay staff salaries and purchase dialysis materials. Without payment, our nurses and technologists have gone unpaid for three months. With Eid approaching and no salary in hand, they simply cannot continue."

She warned that unless the outstanding dues are cleared by Tuesday, Sandor will permanently suspend its services in the country. "We've received no assurance from the Directorate General of Health Services. Our staff are in deep financial hardship and unwilling to work without guarantees."

Acknowledging the crisis, Abu Ahmed Al Mamun, deputy director of the hospital, said, "We are doing our utmost to clear the outstanding payments as soon as possible. The health ministry has already been informed several times. We hope this issue will be resolved soon."

The interruption comes at a time when Bangladesh faces a rising burden of kidney disease. Research data shows that around 2 crore people in the country suffer from some form of kidney ailment. Of these, approximately 40,000 require regular dialysis, but only a small fraction can afford it long-term. Financial strain forces 90% of patients to abandon treatment within months, and nearly half die within two years. Only 1% manage to receive kidney transplants.

The service disruption over funding delays underscored the fragile state of Bangladesh's dialysis infrastructure.