Why Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease is one of the biggest killers in the world, with as many as 10 million adults in Pakistan suffering from kidney disease.

Few Dialysis Centres were in main cities

In Pakistan, there is no national health system.

The few places that provide dialysis do so on a fee paying basis, and are located in the main cities.

65% of the population live away from the cities, where very few dialysis centres existed before the Noor Foundation UK established their centres.

The Enormous Cost

".....the average annual income on the Indian subcontinent is the equivalent of US $400 while the average annual cost of dialysis is about US $4000. As a result, less than 10% of patients with End Stage Renal Disease receive any form of Renal Replacement therapy..."

N Engl J Med 2006

- Dr Tazeen Jafar, Professor & Consultant Nephrologist, Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

A years dialysis in these centres costs on average £3,000, whilst the average wage is around £390 per year. The cost of treatment is so prohibitive that most kidney sufferers simply die.

"The vast majority of patients starting hemodialysis die or stop treatment because of cost constraints within the first three months....."

Source: World Bank

- World Bank 2007 figures of $770 Gross National Income per capital.