Research on the global burden of kidney disease, published in The Lancet, carries grim tidings. Medical researchers at The George Institute for Global Health have calculated that up to 10 million people in the world need dialysis right now for end-stage kidney disease, but only around 2.5 million have access to it, mostly due to cost – the rest will unfortunately die. Additionally, the number of people requiring dialysis is set to rise though most of the increase will be in developing countries.

Prevention measures will help, so will improved incomes, better living standards and better nutrition. But despite all this, there are now and will continue to be many millions of people who need dialysis to stay alive, at least until they can get a kidney transplant, and most of them will die from a treatable condition.

Dialysis is most often performed as hemodialysis using machines that filter the blood, replacing an essential function of the kidneys. These machines cost up to US$20,000 or more each, and are generally located in clinics with elaborate water purification systems and medical staff. The world needs a more affordable solution that can be accessed by more people.