Home dialysis to be available in Croatia by end of year

(Photo credit: Anna Frodesiak/Public domain)

ZAGREB, 15 March  (Hina) – World Kidney Day, marked under the slogan “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Disease Early – Protect Your Health!”, was observed in Zagreb on Thursday, where it was announced that home haemodialysis will be introduced by the end of the year.

This initiative aims to improve the quality of life for dialysis patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect over 850 million people worldwide and is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040.

If not detected early, the disease can lead to severe complications and premature death, experts from the Croatian Society for Nephrology, Transplantation and Dialysis warned.

In Croatia, around 300,000 people suffer from chronic kidney disease in various stages.

According to the Croatian Kidney Replacement Therapy Registry, approximately 500 new patients require dialysis or a transplant each year, while around 4,000 people are already undergoing some form of kidney replacement therapy.

Clinical studies and patient registry analyses have shown that survival rates are significantly higher for patients on home haemodialysis compared to those receiving hospital-based treatment.

Home haemodialysis envisaged by National Health Development Plan

“The National Health Development Plan 2021-2027 includes the introduction of home haemodialysis as part of efforts to improve long-term care in Croatia,” said Ivana Portolan Pajić from the Ministry of Health.

The operational plan for long-term care, which covers home haemodialysis, has been finalised, and all necessary implementation steps will be defined in cooperation with medical experts.

“We expect the first patients to start home haemodialysis at the end of 2025 or early 2026,” Portolan Pajić stated.

The Ministry of Health has already instructed the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) to include home haemodialysis equipment on the basic list of medical aids to ensure readiness for the programme’s launch in 2026.

Screening confirms one in ten Croatians has kidney disease

“Kidney diseases often show no symptoms in the early stages, and when they do, the signs are usually vague. Therefore, an active system for early detection is essential,” said Lada Zibar from the Croatian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation.

She explained that the Society has been working closely with GPs for years on a screening programme, which in the past six months alone has involved 2,000 GP practices and around 10,000 patients.

Croatia moves to bring life-saving dialysis into homes

ZAGREB, 13 March  (Hina) – World Kidney Day, marked under the slogan “Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect Disease Early – Protect Your Health!”, was observed in Zagreb on Thursday, where it was announced that home haemodialysis will be introduced by the end of the year.

This initiative aims to improve the quality of life for dialysis patients.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect over 850 million people worldwide and is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040.

If not detected early, the disease can lead to severe complications and premature death, experts from the Croatian Society for Nephrology, Transplantation and Dialysis warned.

In Croatia, around 300,000 people suffer from chronic kidney disease in various stages.

According to the Croatian Kidney Replacement Therapy Registry, approximately 500 new patients require dialysis or a transplant each year, while around 4,000 people are already undergoing some form of kidney replacement therapy.

Clinical studies and patient registry analyses have shown that survival rates are significantly higher for patients on home haemodialysis compared to those receiving hospital-based treatment.

Home haemodialysis envisaged by National Health Development Plan

“The National Health Development Plan 2021-2027 includes the introduction of home haemodialysis as part of efforts to improve long-term care in Croatia,” said Ivana Portolan Pajić from the Ministry of Health.

The operational plan for long-term care, which covers home haemodialysis, has been finalised, and all necessary implementation steps will be defined in cooperation with medical experts.

“We expect the first patients to start home haemodialysis at the end of 2025 or early 2026,” Portolan Pajić stated.

The Ministry of Health has already instructed the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) to include home haemodialysis equipment on the basic list of medical aids to ensure readiness for the programme’s launch in 2026.

Screening confirms one in ten Croatians has kidney disease

“Kidney diseases often show no symptoms in the early stages, and when they do, the signs are usually vague. Therefore, an active system for early detection is essential,” said Lada Zibar from the Croatian Society for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation.

She explained that the Society has been working closely with GPs for years on a screening programme, which in the past six months alone has involved 2,000 GP practices and around 10,000 patients.