Technology: Tools or Toys, Is It Economically Feasible with Current Reimbursement? The Case in Favor

For the majority of the world population, any kind of dialysis technology is economically unfeasible. Only in relatively few affluent countries is dialysis freely available to all ESRD patients. In the United Kingdom, for example, dialysis is seen as poor value for money and has a low priority for healthcare spending. Most UK dialysis units are unable to obtain sufficient funding to provide adequate dialysis to all their ESRD patients. Even in the USA, reimbursement is provided at such a low rate that it is very difficult for units to provide adequate treatment without the bulk purchasing power and central management of a larger provider chain.