DIALYSIS IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES - PRIORITIES AND OBSTACLES

The incidence and prevalence of end stage renal failure (ESRD) is unkn own in the developing countries due to lack of organized registries. T he vast majority of ESRD patients are unable to gain access to dialyti c therapy because of poverty, ignorance and lack of healthcare deliver y systems. Even those who can manage to avail themselves of maintenanc e dialysis facility, continue to suffer from complications of uraemia due to inadequate dialysis. Because of the high costs involved in sett ing up and running haemodialysis units, a sudden growth in the number of dialysis units is not expected in the near future. Continuous ambul atory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has yet to gain wide acceptance. A su ccessful renal transplant remains the only viable form of renal replac ement therapy. Unless the policy makers decide to make special budgeta ry allocations for care of ESRD in developing countries, most of the p atients would continue to die without receiving the benefits of modern therapy.