Dialysis

Dialysis is free in Mauritius in the public hospital and associated hospitals. It is also free in a number of private clinics including Chisty Shifa Clinic which are funded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to take on patients under the care of the public hospitals.

The dialysis unit at Chisty Shifa Clinic currently does 3 dialysis sessions per day.

Most people need 3 sessions of haemodialysis per week, with each session lasting around 4 hours.

The Dialysis unit also provides sessions for patients referred from a private Nephrologist or for those who wish to undergo dialysis outside of a hospital setting. This option is not funded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Fluid and diet restrictions for dialysis patients:

If you’re having haemodialysis, the amount of fluid you can drink will be severely restricted.

This is because the dialysis machine will not be able to remove 2 to 3 days’ worth of excess fluid from your blood in 4 hours if you drink too much.

This can lead to serious problems where excess fluid builds up in your blood, tissues and lungs.

The amount of fluid you’re allowed to drink will depend on your size and weight. Most people are only allowed to drink 1,000 to 1,500ml (2 to 3 pints) of fluid a day.

You’ll also need to be careful what you eat while having haemodialysis.

This is because minerals such as sodium (salt), potassium and phosphorus, which would normally be filtered out by your kidneys, can build up to dangerous levels quickly between treatment sessions.