Canadians living with kidney failure face significant financial challenges as a result of dialysis treatment and waiting for a transplant. Starting dialysis often results in a decrease of income at the same time that out-of-pocket costs increase, such as those for transportation to treatment and medication. Government coverage and financial support for people on dialysis varies, resulting in inequalities across jurisdictions.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, in association with Dr. Scott Klarenbach, Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta, conducted the Burden of Out-of-Pocket Costs for Canadians with Kidney Failure survey in 2016 to obtain data that would provide evidence of the economic burden associated with dialysis, as well as how this might impact patients and the care they receive. The survey was conducted online and via paper-based surveys administered by CANSW members in over 20 centres and was available in English, French and Chinese.
Read the full report here: https://www.kidney.ca/burden