Türkiye has issued a new regulation on dialysis centres that lengthens the period in which patients can receive "holiday dialysis" away from home and raises the maximum number of machines a centre may operate. The Health Ministry’s Regulation on Dialysis Centres was published in Friday’s Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete) and took effect on publication, according to Anadolu Agency (AA), Türkiye newspaper and A Haber.
Holiday dialysis from May to November
Under the new rules, the holiday dialysis period, during which patients can have their sessions at a centre in another province while travelling, is extended from June–October to the period from May until the end of November, AA, Türkiye newspaper and A Haber reported.
Patients will also be able to have their monthly mandatory dialysis check-ups at public or private health facilities outside the centre where they are treated, and continue treatment with a dialysis prescription issued elsewhere, according to the three outlets. Nephrology specialists keep priority for monthly check-ups and prescriptions, AA and Türkiye newspaper reported.
Bigger centres and earlier transplant referrals
The upper limit on devices per centre rises from 60 to 80, and centres that merge cannot exceed 80 machines in total, AA, Türkiye newspaper and A Haber reported. Foundation (private, non-profit) universities will be allowed to open dialysis centres and units, according to Türkiye newspaper and A Haber.
Patients who newly start chronic dialysis must be informed about kidney transplantation within three months at the latest and referred to a public organ transplant centre, AA and A Haber reported.
Doctors’ dialysis reports will have to state why peritoneal dialysis was not chosen, so that clinically suitable patients are directed to it first, according to all three outlets. The main rules for home haemodialysis remain unchanged, AA and Türkiye newspaper said.
Fines added to inspections
The regulation adds administrative fines to the sanctions that can be imposed after inspections of dialysis services, Türkiye newspaper and A Haber reported. The amounts were not given.
Foreign residents covered by the state scheme can check how SGK pays for treatment in our explainer on health insurance for foreign residents.
Sources
- "Diyaliz Merkezleri Hakkında Yönetmelik" Resmi Gazete’de yayımlandı (Anadolu Ajansı)
- Diyaliz hastalarını ilgilendiren karar! Muayene ve reçetede yeni kolaylık (Türkiye Gazetesi / İHA)
- Diyaliz hastalarını ilgilendiren yeni düzenleme! Resmi Gazete’de (A Haber)
Photo: Виталий Поспелов at ru.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
