I have written in earlier Letters from Chennai about the rural programme of the Kidney Help Trust. Let me refresh your memory, and give you some updated figures. Renal transplantation is the least expensive treatment for end-stage renal disease. It costs about Rs 3.5 lakh (Rs 350 000) and the patient will then need immunosuppressive therapy costing at least Rs 10 000 a year, which could go up to Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100 000) a year depending on the immunosuppression used. The per capita income in India is Rs 33 283 a year, and only 3.2% of us earn more than Rs 50 000 a year. How do we bridge the gap? The Government (Centre, State and Local together) provides Rs 828 per capita per year on health. It is abundantly clear that India, and most Indians, cannot afford to treat end-stage renal disease.
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