THE Kidney Foundation of Zambia (KFZ) says patients accessing renal consumables in public hospitals are likely to face challenges in the first quarter due to the unavailability of renal services.

Renal services, also known as nephrology, are a specialized area of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of kidney diseases and related complications.

In an interview with ZANIS, KFZ Secretary General, Augustine Mukuka, has since appealed to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) to expedite the supply of renal consumables.

Mr Mukuka noted that renal consumables are major components used in dialysis machines and urged the government to ensure the availability of the equipment and improve access for kidney patients in rural areas.

He noted that many patients with kidney failure in rural areas are facing various challenges due to the lack of dialysis machines and services, adding that addressing this issue would ease the burden of traveling to urban areas for treatment.

Mr Mukuka however, expressed confidence that ZAMMSA and other pharmaceutical companies would establish manufacturing plants to produce renal consumables locally.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Mwansa, a mother whose 3-year-old son has been diagnosed with a kidney condition since birth, has appealed to the government to urgently address issues related to renal consumables and other challenges.