A new measure from the Ministry of Health will benefit patients who require hemodialysis and need to undergo treatment outside their home city. With the creation of the item “Identification of patients under dialysis treatment in transit,” individuals will be able to continue their procedures normally, with payment guaranteed by the Unified Health System (SUS).
The Government of Brazil has been investing in nephrological treatments, allocating resources to ensure and increase services and care throughout the country. In early 2017, the ministry released R$ 197 million to fund nephrological treatments in the country, benefiting chronic kidney patients who require continuous treatment and depend on SUS.
Currently, around 100,000 chronic kidney patients need Renal Replacement Therapy in the country, with 85% of them being exclusively assisted by SUS. The main risk factors for chronic kidney disease are diabetes and hypertension, both managed in Primary Care. Between 2010 and 2016, the increase in the care network was 26%, rising from 11.3 million procedures to 14.2 million.
Source: Ministry of Health