Each patient in need of dialysis could get up to $600,000 yearly

There are nearly 300 people across Guyana who need dialysis treatment to help them live. But the government now aims to provide up to $600,000 annually to each of these patients to help them offset the costs of the expensive treatment.

This was announced by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who presented the 2022 National Budget on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown.

In total, this measure is expected to cost the government some $180 million. And Dr. Singh said that this investment is being made because hundreds of people are undergoing treatment for life-threatening conditions- like kidney failure.

Christopher Sukha, is one of the nearly 300 Guyanese, who need dialysis treatment. This dialysis is needed because his kidneys no longer function properly and cannot filter waste from his body.

This dialysis treatment, however, allows the waste to be removed from his body via a machine but it costs $12,000 per session- with about three sessions needed weekly.

This, of course, is an expensive treatment that Sukra and the nearly 300 other Guyanese have to pay for.

During the News Room’s post-budget forum on Wednesday, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said that the government previously provided a one-off $360,000 grant to patients in need of dialysis.

Though that provided some relief, he acknowledged that more assistance is necessary.

“… most people who require dialysis would have to get maybe three sessions per week and after maybe a year or two, they can’t afford it because they just don’t have the money,” the Health Minister lamented.

And so, with this new dialysis support programme, more aid can be provided to patients in great need.