The World Organization of Renal Therapies, WORTH, wants to give Belize 8 hemodialysis machines for free. But as we reported on Friday, WORTH was withdrawing its offer to establish a dialysis unit at the KHMH and another at the La Loma Luz Hospital because of a lack interest by the Ministry of Health. It outraged patients who need hemodialysis treatments to survive and are currently forced to pay the crippling $550 per treatment at the Healthcare Partners Hospital. It has become an embarrassment for the Ministry of Health – public relations disaster reeling out of control. Government’s point man on the project, Director of Health Services Dr. Michael Pitts called a press conference this afternoon to say that despite a few bumps in the road, it is still on track.

Dr. Michael Pitts, Director of Health Services
“There were some slippage in terms of action but by and large I think with discussions that we had with Dr. Trebbin, the principal with WORTH, we have some understanding as to the way forward. And I could say today that the program is on the table and he is agreeing to continue the discussions as to how to have the introduction of dialysis as agreed, as I stated before.”

But Dr. Pitts says that the cost of 8 dollars per treatment is unrealistic. So how much will a dialysis cost at the KHMH or La Loma Luz once the units are established? Well Dr. Pitts isn’t sure. He does know that the cost will be much more than the $8 suggested but he expects it will be less than the $550 per treatment for patients that aren’t on government’s list of 20 kidney patients.