Alleviating the Financial Burden for Dialysis Patients in Low-and Middle-Income Countries During the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic

The novel coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹), caused by the pathogen, namely SARS-CoV-۲, was first identified in December ۲۰۱۹ in Wuhan, China. It spread rapidly and manifested as a global pandemic. As of Sep ۰۴, ۲۰۲۰, the pathogen has infected ۲۶۱۷۱۱۱۲ people and caused ۸۶۵۱۵۴ deaths across the globe (۱). Bangladesh, which happens to be a densely populated country, had its first cases identified in March ۲۰۲۰. Since then, the country has been facing mounting challenges in combating COVID-۱۹. In Bangladesh, ۳۲۱۶۱۵ confirmed cases and ۴۴۱۲ fatalities of COVID-۱۹ reported as of ۰۴ Sep ۲۰۲۰ (۲). In this unprecedented situation, routine health services have been thoroughly disrupted due to the increased risk of infection and lack of hospital beds. Critical patients who are in dire need of these regular services have been put in jeopardy. Dialysis is defined as the process of removal of wastes and excess fluid from blood (۳). Dialysis is performedwhen the kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood to remove the accumulated toxins and excess water from the body (۴). However, dialysis for kidney failure patients in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) is very expensive around US$ ۳,۴۲۴ to US$ ۴۲,۷۸۵ per year for hemodialysis (HD) and US$ ۷, ۹۷۴ to US$ ۴۷, ۹۷۱ for peritoneal dialysis (PD) (۵). In Bangladesh, around eight lac (۰.۸ millions) kidney failure patients require dialysis, and among them, only ۳۰ thousand are able to receive dialysis due to lack availability of dialysis centre and patients financial capability (۶). Only ۱۰۱ dialysis centershave been established in Bangladesh till date (۵), and all of them are mostly located within the city limits. Patients often need to travel long distances in order to access this crucial treatment, and long-distance travel could potentially exacerbate existing conditions.

Keywords:

Coronavirus , Immune System , Dialysis , Safety , Financial Burden