FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Bharathan Medical Foundation helps kidney failure patients from poor socio-economic backgrounds by providing financial assistance for their treatment. Unlike patients with other diseases, patients with kidney failure require lifelong medical assistance, whether they are on dialysis or on immunosuppressants post kidney transplant surgery. They face immense financial difficulties as their meagre savings, if any, vanish and most times they are battling severe debt. Not only the patient but their entire family faces financial ruin as they struggle to pay for the treatment, which unfortunately is for life.
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​The average monthly expense of a patient on hemodialysis is Rs. 35,000 – 45,000 which includes dialysis, medicines and medical tests. This is an annual cost upwards of Rs. 4,00,000! For patients on peritoneal dialysis, the expense is much higher. This is just the regular expense and does not take into account the additional expense in case of medical complications.
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​A successful kidney transplant dramatically improves the quality of life of the patient. However the approximate cost of a kidney transplant surgery is approximately Rs. 7.5 lakhs. Post the surgery, the patient has to be on immunosuppressant medication for life to prevent the transplanted kidney from being rejected by the body. The annual cost of immunosuppressants though is lower than the cost of being on dialysis.
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​Unfortunately many patients either lose their employment or are unable to work due to their health condition. Those who can work do not get employment once employers get to know about their disease. Due to the severe financial strain, most low income families are forced into a debt trap.
With loss of family income and massive medical costs, many children of patients have to give up their studies and start working early to support their family. Since they are hardly qualified, they get low paying jobs which effectively means the family is unable to get out of poverty.
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​Bharathan Medical Foundation aims to help not just the patient but indirectly his/ her family too. We provide monthly financial support for dialysis and medicines for the patients. This financial assistance for treatment helps their families manage their other expenses.
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We also offer a one time financial support to patients undergoing transplant surgery.