Tonga has taken a major step toward establishing its first free dialysis clinic with the arrival of 10 state-of-the-art dialysis machines, marking significant progress since the groundbreaking ceremony at Veitongo in 2023.
The new machines, valued at over AU$2 million, were donated by the US-based Siaosi Brown Dialysis Board, the main provider and sponsor of the kingdom’s dialysis centre project. They were officially received last week by Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr Ana Akau’ola.
Tonga currently lacks a dialysis service for its people. Each year, sixty individuals in the kingdom die from chronic kidney disease, according to a report by Stuff.
The new equipment is expected to revolutionise kidney care in the kingdom, where dialysis access has long been limited.
Dr Akauola reportedly said the life-changing impact the machines will have, particularly for patients who previously had to travel overseas for treatment.
She said this is a milestone for Tonga’s healthcare system.
She also said these machines will save lives and provide much-needed relief to families affected by kidney disease.
Of the 10 machines, two will be allocated to Vaiola Hospital for acute care, six will support chronic kidney patients, and the remaining two will be reserved for emergencies and future demand. Local medical staff are already undergoing training, with the clinic expected to open in July.
The dialysis centre itself is being designed and built in the United States in prefabricated sections before being shipped to Tonga for assembly, a reliable source told Kaniva News.
Once operational, the centre will offer free dialysis treatments, significantly alleviating the financial and logistical burdens faced by Tongan patients who previously had to travel abroad for their treatments.
The Siaosi Brown Dialysis website said: “There will be five dialysis machines ready for patients in 2025 at our location in Tongatapu near Vaiola Hospital. These free services are only the beginning. Once the project is fully completed, the Health Education Centre will bring hope to hundreds of Tongans suffering from chronic kidney disease, regardless of their ability to pay. This beautiful new facility will be constructed in Tongatapu, and will become a beacon of hope to the community.”
