Dialysis in Fiji

Both the Fiji Times Online and FijiLive have articles announcing plans to build a dialysis center in Suva. According to the Fiji Times Online article

In the South Pacific there are only two Dialysis Centers, one in Samoa, which started three years ago and the other is now in Fiji.

I supposed this would be between Hawaii and New Zealand but there is dialysis in Tahiti according to globaldialysis.com (even a helpful comment indicating the possibility of extended treatments dialyzing into the early morning). This may be a cultural divide since geographically they seem pretty close (considering the size of the South Pacific). The odd thing about both articles is that they focus on the promise of increased tourism as opposed to the promise of allowing people with severe kidney disease to remain in their communities.

Who wouldn't want to go to Fiji? Build the unit and the dialyzors will come. Both articles quoted a number I had never seen. As the Fiji Times Online put it:

Dr Benjamin [who heads the Cancer Services in Auckland] says there are about 50,000 people around the world in need of dialysis and this will lead them to seek treatment in Fiji.

And the great news is that there will be tourists coming for dialysis as there are over 50,000 rich people around the world who need dialysis and they want to come to places like Fiji, Dr Benjamin said.

In the FijiLive article Dr. Benjamin's quote is a little different

Dr Benjamin, who has volunteered to provide assistance to the new dialysis centre and is also head of Cancer Services in Auckland, says that apart from saving the lives of kidney patients, the Dialysis Centre would greatly promote tourism in the country. 

There are 50,000 patients all over the world who would like to visit places as well as get their treatment done and Fiji provides them with both, according to Dr Benjamin.

That 50,000 number of course caught my attention. Most likely this is a well meaning cancer doc pulling an number out of his a the air. Besides generate wanderdesire and make me want to lie on a beach in the South Pacific, the article did cause me to wonder how large is the dialyzor visitor market for Fiji? I'm not sure you need to be rich. It may be that there are funds to reimburse for treatment for dialyzors from the UK, EU or Australia/New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand would be the target markets, just due to proximity. I might fly through Hawaii to visit Fiji but I am not sure how many other Americans would.

Comments

[Rachel]

Can you help me find contact information for the dialysis facility in Fiji?

[Bill Peckham]

I think the unit is located at The Fiji CWM Hospital; The email for the Kidney Foundation of Fiji is kidney@connect.com.fj

Rachel if you need someone to visit to inspect the unit I am available.

[Rachel]

Thank you again for your help, Bill!

Here is some additional contact information for patients that might want to travel to the Fiji Islands in the future:

Fiji Dialysis Centre
CWM Hospital
Suva, Fiji
fijidialysiscentre@gmail.com
kidney@connect.com.fj
Phone: +679 3100020 or +679 3215284
Fax: +679 3100020

The cost per treatment (as of April 2009) is set at 500 Fiji Dollars which currently converts to $227.19 USD. (www.xe.com will provide an up-to-date exchange rate conversion.)

If you are a dialysis patient that is looking to travel there, simply email me at rachel.perdue@fmc-na.com or contact the facility directly for their transient packet.

Thank you again!

[Sham Ratty]

Hello,
I am making an equiry on behalf of one of our renal patients in Seattle who is planning on visiting family in Suva City for 1 to 2 months.
Patient is a retired civil servant, former employee of the ministry of agriculture. Any information will be much appreciated.
Thank you.

[Bill Peckham]

Rachel gave the definitive way for you to set up treatments. See her comment directly above yours.

I'd ask the hospital about the whole prior civil service angle. Maybe he'd be entitled to state sponsored treatments or at least some sort of good guy rate.

I take it you're not at the Northwest Kidney Centers because if you were, you could take advantage of their highly skilled visitor dialysis services.

All these trips - and numerous incenter trips I took in the US, all my many trips - probably something like 100 trips - were facilitated by the most awesome dialysis transient coordinator in the business. Without Cheryl it would have been a lot less fun to organize all that travel.

I wish everyone dialyzed at the Northwest Kidney Centers but I know that isn't possible. Instead, I'll wish all dialysis providers followed the Northwest Kidney Centers model.

[Saawan Nath]

how much would it cost me to do dialysis in fiji
my name is yatindra

[Domeenic Adkins]

Dear Sir
I have a company that wishes to build a new dialysis center in Samoa along with a housing facility for 8 units to serve part of the pacific Islands and another one typical in Micronesia for the other islands and maybe one inbetwe3en aabout mid point. These clinics will teach diabetis, kidney and home machine use with generator and battery backup with top of the line water treatment. We will supply home units whear cdlinics are not aavailable. The patient and family can travel to the clienics that have housing as neeeded for treatment. We will set up all equipment , train and have traveling Doctor to check on paitents. This network is needed and we need all the information you may have on cost to travel for treatment, approx number of need of service, and treatment cost in the Picific islands. We will be working with the leading mfgs and a team that is working on this project at present. Thank You Domenic Adkins President of Pacific Angles, Inc Please email me direct adkinsuschina@gmail.com

[Paula Michele]

I am a social worker trying to help an illegal alien back to Fiji. He needs dialysis, but has no funding for it. I am glad to know there is a dialysis centre there, but I need access for him to have a doctor there & medical financial assistance. Any help is appreciated!