South Africa

Despite rapidly growing demand for renal replacement treatment for chronic kidney disease, very few patients suffering from CKD receive treatment due to resource constraints. Fewer than five percent of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in sub-Saharan Africa receive dialysis, with several countries having no access at all. Although South Africa fairs better than some sub-Saharan countries, its access to care is significantly poorer than its economic peers. A study in 2016 reported that South Africa had only 1.1 nephrologists per million population. Many regions in South Africa, especially more rural areas, do not have available dialysis clinics, which can lead to lack of treatment and ultimately death for many patients.