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The number of hemodialysis patients grows in Armenia year by year and as of today some 900 patients receive hemodialysis. Overall 13 centers operate in the republic, five of which are in capital Yerevan, the rest in the provinces. Days ago, a new center was launched in Martuni town. The necessity of opening new centers is conditioned with the growing number of patients, the Head of Hemodialysis and Kidney Transplantation Department Helen Nazaryan told Panorama.am

In Nazaryan’s words, the main problem with centres is the accommodation capacity as some of them have the capacity of 20 and 30 beds, yet sometimes 50 patients are served at a time.

“We follow the statistics of the patients from each marz who visit the Yerevan centres and based on the numbers we assess the possibility of opening new centres in the provinces with most patients. This approach helps us to meet the needs of the patients as it will be more convenient for them to attend the nearby centers instead of visiting Yerevan two three times a week from remote regions,” Nazaryan said.

As to the kidney transplantation in Armenia, the surgeries are performed through living donor who can be a family member wand will donate their kidneys for free. Following the necessary medical examinations, kidney transplantation is performed unless there are any contraindications.

“In other countries there is the option of a deceased-donor kidney transplant which is not performed in Armenia. In that case, a kidney from someone who has recently died is removed with consent of the family or from a donor before death. There are the so-called donor cards placed in a recipient whose kidneys have failed and no longer function properly and is in need of kidney transplantation,” Nazaryan said.

The kidney transplantation costs around 5 million AMD (around $12,000. USD) and some of amount is covered through a state program. According to latest changes to the payment system, the share of the state coverage has increased to 80 per cent of the total cost, while previously the state covered only the 50 per cent of the surgery costs.

To note, 20 kidney transplantations were performed last year in Armenia, with the number expected to be the same this year.