Nairobi, April 9 -- The cost of dialysis consumables has increased by an average of 30 percent over the past three years, putting additional strain on the healthcare sector and raising the cost of care for patients.

Renal care providers link the increase to a weakening shilling, the introduction of value-added tax (VAT) on previously exempt medical supplies, and imposition of import duty on items that previously entered the country tax-free.

These consumables are single-use items required for every dialysis session, including dialyser filters, bloodlines, bicarbonate cartridges, and fistula needles.

Hussein Bagha, a consultant physician and nephrologist at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi, noted that the cost of a dialyser filter has increa...