By Maryam Khalfan -
MUSCAT — The Ministry of Health (MoH) spends nearly RO 7,000 to 8,000 on each patient with kidney failure complications who are on regular dialysis, said an official in an interview with the Observer.
“Currently, around 900 patients with kidney failure are on regular dialysis at a frequency of an average of about three times of call weekly at renal dialysis centres available in the country”, said Dr Yakoob bin Ahmed al Maimani (pictured), Senoir Specialist Nephrologist, Renal Dialysis Centre (RDC) at Bausher.
Besides, the massive resources, which the ministry spends on dialysis patients, significant amounts of funds are equally spent on treatment of nearly 800 transplant patients who also need regular follow- up to monitor the renal function and to adjust their medications. Of the total figure of kidney transplant patients, nearly 300 of transplants were done in the Sultanate from related donors and the rest were done in other countries abroad, he remarked.
“There is an alarming rise in kidney failure cases among Omanis particularly among sufferers of chronic diabetes and high blood pressure, which is proving worrisome. In fact, more than 60 per cent of patients with kidney failure are due to preventable, controllable and yet treatable complications, which are chiefly associated with diabetes and high blood pressure”.
However, the other causes of kidney failure are also due to chronic renal infections that impair the kidneys, the auto immune diseases, obstruction of the kidneys and hereditary reasons.
The rise in the incident of kidney failures is proven by the enormous numbers of patients who, on daily basis call at the 18 RDCs spread at diverse regions of the country.
For instance, at the Bausher RDC alone, around 320 kidney failure patients call at the round-the- clock centre for dialysis services. The centre boasts of 42 stations for dialysis procedures. Likewise, great numbers of kidney failure patients call at the RDCs, which are located at different regions of the country for treatment, noted the specialist.
According to records, Al Batinah Governorate has the greatest numbers of patients with kidney failures due to the region’s population density. The increasing figures of patients with kidney failure is also attributed to improved medical services and care in diagnosing such health complications.
The increase is also attributed to increased survival rates, which is brought on by better healthcare services and facilities in providing the mandatory treatment to patients with kidney failure. The trend is also proven by the survival rate of many patients who have been on dialysis for more than 20 years, affirmed Al Maimani.
The region boasts of an overall number of 42 stations for dialysis services, which is on equal par to the Bausher RDC.
However, due to the increasing number of patients with kidney failure, the ministry plans to open new centres to meet the ever increasing demands of the patients in need of such care. Among such centres, which will be opened in the near future, includes the Haima RDC in Al Wosta Governorate.
Plans are also in line to establish RDCs in Rustaq and Shinas in Wilayat of Al Batinah in addition to the one that will be established in Muscat Governorate at wilayat Seeb.
Currently, a few RDC centres provide round-the-clock dialysis services and the rest of them are open until midnight depending on the demand of patients in need of such care at diverse regions of the country, it is learnt.
The ministry does a lot in providing the healthcare services and treatment of patients with kidney failure, but significant attention should be emphasised on the preventive measures to control the growing numbers of kidney failures.
The community should also be aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, by modifying their lifestyle to reduce the trigger factors that may impair the health of their kidneys.
The ministry should also establish a cadaveric transplant programme of utilising the kidneys of brain dead patients from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for transplant in patients on lifetime dialysis, he remarked.

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