Outsourcing Dialysis Program: Implementation and Challenges.

The demand for dialysis treatment has exceeded supply over the last decade in Saudi Arabia in line with other countries in the region and hence the Ministry of Health (MOH) to outsource dialysis care on a fee-for-service basis. The main objective of this review article is to examine and understand the challenges and strategies devised for the successful implementation, the good operation, and the guaranteed efficiency of outsourcing dialysis program in order to achieve the set clinical performance indicators and quality standards. The outsourcing program has largely helped the MOH in Saudi Arabia to improve the adequacy of dialysis care and the quality of life of dialysis patients and might be cost-effective.

Depression and impaired work productivity among hemodialysis patients in south region of Saudi Arabia.

Various studies have been published in different regions and countries about the prevalence of depression and its relationship with sociodemographic factors in patients on hemodialysis (HD). However, a gap in knowledge about the prevalence, correlates, detection, and treatment of depression and symptoms among dialysis patients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of depression in HD patients and work productivity in Aseer region using Beck's questionnaire to screen depression and work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire to assess the work productivity. The study was conducted in two governmental centers one in Abha and one in Khamis Mushait and involved 233 patients. Participants were interviewed personally and responded to specially designed structured anonymous questionnaire composed of four parts; sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory, Beck's depression inventory, and impaired productivity scale. Of the HD patients studied, 42% and 48.4% were suffering from clinical depression and impaired work productivity, respectively. The risk of clinical depression was significantly higher in the age group >40 years old and when the duration of dialysis is >5 years. Prevalence of clinical depression and impaired work productivity are relatively high among HD patients in Abha and Khamis Mushait cities.