Thank you for your strong support for our cause. The burden of kidney failure carries significant impact on patients and their families as dialysis is a long-term care and an expensive one. The yearly treatment cost for haemodialysis amounts to $25,000 per patient, not to mention other medical costs and opportunity cost when a patient loses his or her job. Dialysis patients, more often than not, have to quit their jobs or reduce their work hours or responsibilities after starting dialysis. Many currently face uncertainties amid the Covid-19 economic crisis.
While about 70% of our 3,800 haemodialysis patients only pay between $0 to $50 every month for dialysis out-of-pocket, I am happy to share that since 1 July 2020, we have been able to further alleviate the financial stress of another 1,500 patients by providing higher subsidies for dialysis and medication, which translates to substantial cost savings of between $948 to $2,688 yearly to tide them through the economic uncertainties.
As we continue to provide financial and psychosocial care for our patients, our work to prevent kidney failure continues unabated. This is especially important as diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, blindness and amputations. World Diabetes Day, which falls on 14 November every year, reminds us of the grim facts in Singapore. Currently, there are over 400,000 Singaporeans living with diabetes. One in three Singaporeans has a lifetime of getting diabetes and if nothing is done, the number of those with diabetes is projected to reach one million by 2050. Correspondingly, the rising number of diabetics will drive the diabetes-induced kidney failure rate up. In fact, for the past few years, Singapore has been ranked among the top globally for diabetes-induced kidney failure rate with 2 in 3 cases of kidney failure due to it. In this issue, our patient Mr Aw Boon Kheng shares his story of being regretful in not taking care of his
diabetic condition which led to kidney failure as he wants others not to end up like him.
Though managing diabetes is not easy, NKF remains committed to persevere in our attempt to fight against kidney failure. It is not impossible to change our taste buds but we need to know the triggering factor for us to do so. To watch your sugar intake and lower your risk of getting diabetes, read our Caring for Your Kidneys segment.
As we journey together to help kidney patients, let’s continue to take care of our health and that of our loved ones for a better future.
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