An agreement was signed yesterday to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the six provincial capitals. The objective is to expand and democratize access to care for people with kidney diseases.
Hope. That is what the agreement signed yesterday at the State Palace of Ambohitsorohitra could bring to people with kidney diseases and their families. It focuses on strengthening infrastructure for treating patients requiring dialysis in the six provincial capitals, with the goal of achieving "a significant reduction" in treatment costs.
Under the leadership of Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, head of state, the agreement was signed on behalf of the state by Dr. Monira Managna, minister of public health, and the representative of Lifenity International, the state's partner on this project. It is an Indian company specializing in developing medical solutions and healthcare infrastructure. It operates in several countries to improve access to care, particularly in highly technical fields such as dialysis.
"Access to appropriate care with respect for human dignity is a right for every citizen. The Malagasy population deserves an effective healthcare system they can rely on in their country without necessarily going abroad. This is precisely why we are holding this partnership agreement signing ceremony. It focuses on developing dialysis services and strengthening healthcare infrastructure in the six provinces," said the senior officer.
In its statement on the agreement signed yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health indicates that "one of the main objectives is reducing the cost of care," emphasizing that "dialysis rates will experience a significant reduction."
The other objective is to bring care closer to patients, particularly those living far from the capital, often forced to make long journeys to access vital treatment.
Blockage
According to figures from the Ministry of Public Health, up to three thousand patients need dialysis in the country. The majority must undergo it regularly, otherwise the disease could be fatal. Yet only five hospitals have dialysis services. Beyond insufficient infrastructure, access to dialysis also involves significant financial burden.
The head of state noted this yesterday. Families go into debt or sell their property to cover care costs. Due to the growing number of people with kidney disease in the country, especially those needing dialysis, increasing centers and democratizing access to care have become a priority of public health policy for several years.
For some patients, the last resort is transplantation. Projects to establish transplant units have already been initiated by the previous state administration. However, the absence of a law authorizing organ transplants is a major obstacle. The related bill is still under review. As a result, any transplant project is suspended pending the adoption and implementation of this legislation. Those with the means or who are fortunate enough to receive coverage still have the option of medical evacuation. But they are rare.
Given the situation, expanding access to care through public-private partnership projects, like the one signed yesterday, is a solution that can ease the burden on patients and their families. According to Colonel Randrianirina, project execution will take place from September 25 to October 11. A period that coincides with the anniversary of the 2025 crisis that brought him to power, as he himself noted.
"The Malagasy people expect full success from us: let us prove it through concrete actions, not mere demonstrations. It is hoped and requested that project implementation respects the agreed timeline. (...) The Malagasy are watching us," concluded the head of state.