10 November 2021
Fresenius Medical Care has been awarded a tender to continue to provide dialysis services in the Katherine region for five more years.
This extension of services delivers certainty for staff and current patients that the service will continue to operate as normal.
Fresenius Medical Care is operated through a public-private partnership with the Territory Government
The 16-chair clinic provides haemodialysis treatment for a total of 30 patients per day.
Over the next five years more than 42,300 treatments are expected to be provided at the Fresenius Medical Care clinic.
Access to dialysis services are vital with the Northern Territory recording the highest prevalence of kidney disease in Australia.
Services provided by Fresenius help people with renal disease stay connected closer to their communities and loved ones while receiving treatment.
Chronic kidney disease is often referred to as a silent disease as up to 90% of kidney function can be lost before symptoms appear.
This contract builds on work underway to improve renal services in the Territory, consistent with the Northern Territory Renal Services Strategy 2017-2022.
The strategy focuses on seven key priority areas for advancing renal services including effective prevention, improved management and early intervention in kidney disease, ongoing coordination, stronger consumer participation, care closer to home, a skilled and culturally competent workforce and a sustainable service system.
Quotes from Health Minister Natasha Fyles:
"This tender for Fresenius Medical Care to continue providing dialysis services is welcome news for Katherine and surrounding communities and means more people will have access to treatment closer to home.
"Over the next five years more than 42,300 haemodialysis treatments are expected to be provided which speaks volumes about the importance of this clinic to the region."
