The Cost of Maintenance Haemodialysis : Implications for Dialysis Planning

An economic evaluation from the health care institution and service provider perspective was done to determine if Satellite haemodialysis (SHD) is less costly than In-centre haemodialysis (ICHD) in Nova Scotia. ICHD patients suitable for satellite units were compared to patients receiving treatment in satellite units. For final comparison, a yearly cost per patient in year 2000 Canadian dollars was determined. The cost per year was $43,939.48 for ICHD, and $41,900.49 for SHD. Increasing the number of patients in the SHD unit to similar capacity as the ICHD unit resulted in decreases in nursing and supplying costs, which decreased the yearly cost of SHD to $28,446.49. From the health care institution and service provider perspective SHD is less expensive than ICHD only if SHD units have enough patients to allow savings in nursing and specific fixed resource costs.