Economic assessment of hemodialysis patients in tertiary and charitable hospitals: A prospective multicenter study in India

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is becoming more common in India, and the treatment options for ESRD are, e.g., hemodialysis (HD) or kidney transplantation. In the current situation, many individuals can only afford HD. More research is needed to estimate the exact cost of HD because it varies across the country. The study aims to investigate the cost of HD in a tertiary and charitable hospital in South India. A multicentric prospective observational study was conducted in tertiary care hospitals. The study included patients who are on HD regularly at these hospitals. Patients’ data and cost information were collected for 1 year. Overall cost evaluation of HD patients was done. Cost categories were calculated based on their cost of HD per session, monthly expense, and cost per annum. This includes HD cost per session, ward cost, consultation physician cost, overall medication cost, laboratory cost, the cost for blood transfusion, transportation cost, accompanying person’s cost, and food costs. More studies on costs and outcomes are required to examine the benefits and drawbacks of renal replacement treatment and improve the quality of life of ESRD patients. As the treatment costs are higher, the government can develop schemes that provide insurance or compensation to needy people.