Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide public health problem, a social calamity and
an economic catastrophe. In the year 2000, in the United States (US) alone, about
30 million people were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is estimated
that by 2010, six million worldwide would need renal replacement therapy (RRT) costing
28 billion dollar.[1]
Burden of CKD in India
The exact burden of CKD in India still remains undefined with only limited data from
the three population-based studies addressing this issue.[2–4]
It is hoped that the CKD registry, recently established by the Indian Society of Nephrology,
may provide useful epidemiological data in the future. In the prevention study done
in Chennai, the prevalence at the community level is 8600 per million population (pmp)
in the study group and 13900 pmp in the control group. The second study based in Delhi[3]
revealed a prevalence of CKD (serum creatinine more than 1.8 mg %) at 7852 pmp. The
third study from Bhopal revealed an incidence of 151 pmp suffering from end stage
renal disease (ESRD). Do we have the resources and skill to handle this ever increasing
population of ESRD in India?
Economic Scenario in India
As per the December 2007 index declared by Rajya Sabha, the per capita income in India
is Rs 20734 per annum. The total population is 113 crore of which 26% live below the
poverty line (BPL) where the daily earning is Rs 10, in comparison, the international
standard BPL is US $1 per day i.e. Rs 45 per day. By this parameter, in India, 70%
of the population would be BPL. The government spends barely US $8 per capita on health
with priorities more on infectious disease, sanitation, nutrition etc[4] (MK Mani
et al.)
Facilities for RRT in India
In the absence of any available data, Mumbai Kidney Foundation (MKF) conducted a data
collection exercise with the help of industry, sources, personal discussion with nephrologists
and telephonic confirmation of dialysis centers.
India has close to 950 nephrologists (not all ISN members) all over the country. There
are 700 dialysis centers with a total of 4000 dialysis machines, predominantly in
the private sector and mainly concentrated in cities, especially metros. There are
around 20,000 patients undergoing dialysis at these centers [Tables 1 and 2]. There
are around 170 government recognized transplant centers in India, performing around
3500 transplants annually. The patients on CAPD number less than 5000. Clearly, the
choices and facilities for RRT are predominantly focused on maintenance hemodialysis
and are woefully inadequate.
Table 1
State of RRT zone wise
Zone
No of Dialysis centers
No. of Dialysis Machines
No. of dialysis per month
Cost of dialysis per session
No. of transplant centers
No. of transplant per month
North
229
1106
50,560
1250
26
85
South
306
1453
85,440
1100
88
117
East
108
430
27,050
1350
15
25
West
175
1000
90,000
1000
37
71
Table 2
State of RRT city wise
City
No of Dialysis centers
No. of Dialysis Machines
No. of dialysis per month
Cost of dialysis per session
No. of transplant centers
No. of transplant per month
Delhi
79
490
28,500
1600
10
35
Mumbai
112
600
40,000
750
20
16
Chennai
44
146
10,220
1200
17
34
Calcutta
36
250
20,000
1100
10
20
Cost of RRT in India
The MKF data also gave insights into the costing of ESRD management [Table 3].
Table 3
Zone and city wise cost of dialysis in India
Zone
Cost of dialysis (Rs) per session
North
1250
South
1100
East
1350
West
1000
Delhi
1600
Mumbai
750
Chennai
1200
Calcutta
1100
The cost of each hemodialysis (HD) session in India varies from Rs 150 in government
hospitals to Rs 2000 in some corporate hospitals. The monthly cost of HD in most private
hospitals average Rs 12000 and the yearly cost of dialysis is Rs 1, 40000, equivalent
of $3000, which is in sharp contrast to an annual cost of $60,000 in the US and UK.
So we are the cheapest in the world and yet more than 90% of Indians cannot afford
it.
The cost of an AV fistula construction is Rs 6000 to Rs 20000 from a government hospital
to varying grades of private hospitals. The average cost of erythropoietin per month
is Rs 4000 (bio similar) to Rs 10000 (the pioneer brand).
The average cost of kidney transplant varies from Rs 50000 in a government set-up
to Rs 300000 in an average private hospital. Also the yearly maintenance cost post
transplant for drugs amounts to Rs 12 0000 per year or Rs 10000 per month.
Actual Cost Break-up of Dialysis in a Private set up
MKF conducted a survey of actual costing of dialysis in few private hospitals in different
cities of India [Table 4] and asked for their running cost of maintenance of hemodialysis
in centers that have a chronic dialysis program and we came up with interesting findings.
Table 4
Actual costing of Dialysis
Consumables
Rs 350
Electricity
Rs 50
Water, telephone, Insurance
Rs10
Annual Maintenance - dialysis machine RO plant, premises
Rs 20
Repairs & wear & tear
Rs 20
Depreciation
Rs 100
Honorarium to nephrologist
Rs 100-200
Staff Salary
Rs 100-200
Total
Rs 750-950
#
Interest on capital Expenditure - Variable
the cost differed from a nephrologist owned facility versus a corporate hospital
the administration greatly exaggerated the cost
Even in large corporate hospitals the recurrent cost dialysis worked out to be between
Rs 700-900 as shown in the Table 4.
The average cost to the patient across the country works out to be Rs 1100, which
truly is, beyond the reach of more than 90% of India. To increase the reach of dialysis,
bring it out of the corporate hospital set up and make it cheaper in the smaller free
standing units or nephrologists-owned units.
Concept of Nephrologist Owned Unit
Is it cost effective? The answer is yes! If you do not mind the travails of running
a center. One could either own the set up or take it on lease and pay rent. It could
be a day care centre attached to your consulting room, or a full fledged small hospital
with indoor facilities.
By my own experience, the cost of a single dialysis session to the nephrologist comes
to less than 600 if we make bulk purchases. Laboratory facilities or outsourcing can
fetch additional income. Sale of EPO after obtaining a pharmacy license is easy and
lucrative and can easily subsidize the cost of dialysis.
Our Experience in Mumbai
If you go through the table, you will realize that Mumbai has the distinction of offering
the cheapest dialysis in India at an average cost of Rs 700 per session largely because
of the presence of two distinct models which have been in existence since many years
[Table 5].
Table 5
Costing of our 700 dialysis done last month in a nephrologist-owned unit
Items
Monthly Expenses (Rs.)
Per dialysis (Rs.)
Formalin
1470
2
Hypochloride
630
1
Hydrogen Peroxide
480
0.7
Acitic Acid
1110
1.6
Dialyzers (118 no)
60,000
86
Bicarb Cans (303 can)
45,000
64
Tubing Set (32 sets)
4,160
6
A-V.Fistula Needles (1400)
29,400
42
Normal saline (1 Liter 707 bottles
14,140
20
Ns 500 Ml 350
4,550
6.5
Gloves (Per day 2box × 26 Days)
9,256
13
Heparine (250 Vials Of 25000 Units)
7,000
10
Gauze (40packs)
10,080
14.4
Syringes (20ml 707)
5,567
8
Micropore Sticking Plaster
1,616
2.3
Neosporin Powder
2,418
3.5
IV Set (707 pieces)
5,656
8
Material Total expenses
202533
289
Concept of Free Standing Unit
Also called community dialysis centre or satellite dialysis units, they essentially
offer only dialysis facility with no admission facility. Thus, they can offer dialysis
at a reasonable price by cutting down the overheads. It comprises of a full fledged
dialysis centre with 10-20 dialysis machines, isolated machines for Hepatitis B and
C, RO plant and a resuscitation trolley with monitor and defibrillator. It also has
trained nurses, technicians and doctors trained in resuscitation of a serious patient.
The patient is screened at the entry point and taken only if he is stable for OPD
dialysis. Semi-acute problems are solved by telephonic consultation between the RMO
and nephrologist. During an occasional acute emergency, the RMO or the paramedics
resuscitate and if need be transfer to a hospital.
The nephrologist reviews the patient at least once in a week, if not daily. Such a
concept of free standing unit already exists in the USA and Singapore. Based on this
model, presently, Mumbai has 17 such free standing units out of a total of 112 dialysis
centers in the city.
Concept of Charitable Dialysis Unit
The second model, which brought down the cost of dialysis further down in Mumbai,
was the involvement of philanthropists and setting up of non-governmental organization
(NGO) backed charitable dialysis units, either in an established hospital or as free
standing units.
The involvement of the NGO can be in the following manner.
The entire space and machinery belongs to the trust and they provide dialysis on a
no profit no loss basis.
The NGO is interested only in donating machines and RO plant to an already existing
private dialysis centre and in lieu of the donation gets a fixed number of free dialysis
to help poor patients.
The philanthropist is interested in donating dialysis machine and wants the unit to
be named after him or gets into the advisory board of the dialysis unit.
The NGO enters into a public-private partnership with the government which provides
space for the unit in a government hospital and the NGO runs the charitable dialysis
unit.
Other areas in which NGOs or philanthropists work in dialysis field are:
Bulk purchase of medicines especially injection Erythropoietin and providing them
at an extremely subsidized price to dialysis patients.
Bulk purchase of dialyzers, tubings and other disposable items used for dialysis and
selling them to patients at subsidized rates.
Offering pick up and drop services to dialysis patients.
Offering free monthly rations to poor CKD patients.
Holding blood donation camps for providing blood to dialysis patients.
As a result of promoting these two concepts, Mumbai has 112 dialysis centers, of which
17 are free standing units. Of the 600 dialysis machines which Mumbai has, 150 are
in charitable units. In Mumbai, there are about 5000 dialysis patients of which 1250
are taking dialysis at less than Rs 350 per dialysis and the average price of dialysis
is Rs 700 - 750 per session, which is the cheapest in the country (National average
cost is Rs 1100). Further more, some patients pay less than Rs 100 per dialysis.
Suggestions for Increasing the Outreach of Dialysis all over India
In summary what can be done to make dialysis more affordable?
The Mumbai model can be used as an example to improve the availability as well as
affordability of dialysis therapy all over the country. This can be done in the following
manner:
Build middle level cost effective nephrologist-owned dialysis units costing Rs 800
per session as dialysis cost.
Encourage free standing units or satellite dialysis units
Involve philanthropists to adopt patients and donate machines. There is no dearth
of such people wanting to help for a good cause.
Encourage the govt. to lend space for private public partnership in a govt. hospital
with NGO participation.
Lobby with the govt. to subsidize or make dialysis equipment and disposables tax free.
If multiplexes can enjoy tax free holidays, dialysis units also deserve some help
from the government. Also, let the electricity used by such units be charged at non-commercial
rates.
Buy cheap labor by training intelligent, smart, non-graduates to become dialysis technicians,
thereby bringing down the labor cost. ISN can start such courses.
ISN should back its nephrologists for every medico legal case arising out of there
subsidized dialysis units. This can be done by laying minimum standard of care criteria
which the units need to adhere to
Thus one can be cynical and say there are two options - let patients succumb to their
illness as Indians cannot afford RRT or adopt the Mumbai model of providing RRT at
highly subsidized rates.