No promise for a dialysis unit in the kingdom - Tonga Government Featured
1 February, 2018. Tonga's Ministry of Health says the government has never promised to establish a kidney dialysis unit in the kingdom.
Dr Sione Latu said the Ministry could not fund its own programme because it would eat up 20 percent of the annual health budget for less than one percent of the population and it is not equitable distribution of meagre resources.
However he said the Ministry is in talks with the Tongan Dialysis Foundation which wants to establish a private clinic.
Dr Latu said claims 60 people have died from chronic kidney disease are an exaggeration.
He told Kaniva News the group needs to fulfil several requirements including securing specialists, and a sound financial plan before the Ministry could endorse their plans.
Dr Latu said sustainability is vital and if the Ministry endorses the agency's project then when things go wrong the government would either get the blame or have to clean up the mess which would incur huge costs.
Dr Latu's comments come after a Tongan in danger of being deported from New Zealand, said it would be a death sentence if he was sent home because there was no dialysis treatment available.
A former rugby international has had to remain in Romanian for the past few years because of kidney failure and the need to get treatment there.
-RNZI
