Doctors, Patients Raise Concerns Over Kidney Care Access as World Kidney Day Marked in Eldoret

By Wasike Elvis 

Doctors and kidney patients in Eldoret have called on the government to strengthen healthcare support for people living with kidney disease, citing gaps in medication coverage and delayed payments to health facilities.

The calls were made on Thursday during activities to mark World Kidney Day at Rapha Hospitals and Clinics in Eldoret. The global awareness day focuses on promoting kidney health and improving access to treatment for people suffering from kidney-related illnesses.

Speaking during the event, the hospital’s Founder, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sharon Sang, said the theme of this year’s World Kidney Day centers on equitable access to kidney care for all patients.

Dr. Sang noted that Kenya has made notable progress over the past decade in expanding access to dialysis services, particularly through government-backed health coverage.

“Today as we mark World Kidney Day, we are also reflecting on the milestones that we have achieved over the years. Many of the patients you see here were previously unable to access dialysis services, but the situation has improved significantly,” she said.

She explained that the Social Health Authority (SHA) currently covers the cost of dialysis treatment, allowing many patients who would otherwise be unable to afford the procedure to receive care.

“Looking at where Kenya was more than 10 years ago and where we are today, there is progress. SHA now covers 100 percent of dialysis services, which has enabled many patients to access life-saving treatment,” she said.

Despite the progress, Dr. Sang highlighted several challenges that continue to affect kidney patients and healthcare providers.

She said many patients suffering from kidney failure also have underlying conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which require ongoing treatment and medication that is not fully covered under the current SHA package.

“The current coverage does not adequately cater for the medication these patients require. Blood pressure medication, diabetes drugs, erythropoietin injections, and calcium supplements are essential for kidney patients, yet they are not fully covered,” she explained.

Dr. Sang also noted that patients seeking kidney transplants still face significant financial barriers because the insurance cover does not adequately cater for the procedure or the long-term medication required afterward.

“When patients need kidney transplants, they still have to pay out of pocket for many of the services. Even after the transplant, the medicine they need to take daily to prevent the body from rejecting the new kidney is not fully covered,” she said.

She appealed to the Ministry of Health and the leadership of SHA to review and enhance the current benefit package to ensure that kidney patients receive comprehensive care.

“As a facility, we are appealing on behalf of our patients for the authorities to review the packages currently offered so that more patients can benefit from kidney transplants and avoid lifelong dialysis,” she said.

Dr. Sang also raised concerns about delayed payments from the government health insurance scheme, which she said is affecting the ability of some hospitals to provide dialysis services.

According to her, some healthcare facilities have stopped accepting patients under the SHA scheme and instead require them to pay cash for dialysis.

“We have received an influx of patients from other facilities that are shutting down or no longer accepting SHA. Many of them are asking patients to pay cash because their reimbursements have been delayed,” she said.

She revealed that Rapha Hospitals and Clinics itself has not received payments from the scheme for the past six months despite continuing to provide treatment to patients.

“At this facility alone, we are currently serving about 55 dialysis patients a day. For a hospital handling such a number, delayed payments create serious financial strain,” she added.

Dr. Sang warned that unless the government addresses the reimbursement delays, more healthcare facilities could stop offering dialysis services, leaving patients with limited options for treatment.

She also pointed to challenges within the primary healthcare system, which she said plays a critical role in preventing kidney disease.

According to Dr. Sang, many kidney failure cases are caused by poorly managed chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which should ideally be detected and treated early at primary healthcare facilities.

“Primary healthcare is where patients are first diagnosed with conditions like diabetes and hypertension. If these conditions are managed early, many cases of kidney failure can be prevented,” she said.

However, she noted that the primary healthcare network is currently struggling because many facilities have not received reimbursements for several months.

“As a result, many of them are no longer accepting patients under the scheme. Patients are being asked to pay for consultation, laboratory tests, and medication, and many cannot afford these costs,” she said.

The doctor warned that the situation could lead to an increase in cases of end-stage kidney disease.

“At our facility alone, we are currently receiving an average of 10 to 15 new kidney failure patients every month. Previously, the numbers were much lower than what we are seeing now,” she said.

She also noted that the hospital is increasingly receiving patients from other parts of the country as well as neighboring countries.

“We are currently serving patients from across the East African region, including some from Uganda and Sudan who travel to Eldoret to seek treatment,” she said.

Patients undergoing dialysis at the facility also shared their experiences and appealed to the government for more support.

Cornelius Bates, a kidney patient from Nandi County, said he was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2023 and has been undergoing dialysis since then.

He said the cost of treatment and medication remains a major challenge for many patients.

“We are requesting the government and the Ministry of Health to help support kidney transplant costs so that patients do not have to struggle to raise the money themselves,” he said.

Another patient undergoing treatment said the cost of essential drugs remains too high for many families.

She explained that calcium tablets, which are commonly prescribed for dialysis patients, can cost as much as Sh100 per tablet, making them difficult for patients to afford over long periods.

Patients also cited transportation costs as another burden, noting that some travel long distances to reach dialysis centers.

Some patients said they travel more than 40 kilometers several times a week to receive dialysis treatment.

Despite the challenges, several patients expressed gratitude for the care they have received at the facility and thanked the medical staff for their support.

World Kidney Day is observed annually across the globe to raise awareness about kidney health, encourage early screening for kidney disease, and advocate for improved access to treatment for patients living with kidney-related conditions.