Government grants for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) increased from $6,649,179 in the June 2017 to $6,939,106 in June 2018.

The increase was highlighted in the NKF Annual Report for the Financial Year in question.

The grants account for a large part of the Foundation's income of $7,262,583.

According to the report, “there were some increases to revenues from donation from $48,109 in June 2018 to $53,274 in June 2018 and patient treatment fees from $196,310 in June 2017 to $223,809 in June 2018.”

“There were also major increases in expenditures like personnel costs from $1,745,645 in June 2017 to $1,918,707 in June 2018.

“The cost of medical supplies used also showed indications of increasing from $3,362,823 in June in 2017 to $3,530,555 in June 2018 and also administrative costs increased from $1,031,775 in June 2017 to $1,211,808 in June 2018.”

The annual report also stated that for personnel costs, a permanent doctor was employed in May 2018, and three labourers were hired in April, on a temporary basis, to assist with dismantling the proposed new premises for the Foundation.

“In addition, this financial year saw a full year of implementing of a third shift due to the high number of patients," the report reads.

“Medical supplies increased in conjunction with increases in patient numbers and preventive activities.

“The increase in administrative costs was due mainly to the high costs for the repairing of the Tuasivi generator and electrical services and repair and maintenance   work for dialysis equipment and chairs,” relayed the annual report.

Despite the increases in total expenditures from $6,689,830 in June 2017 to $7,144,266 in June 2018, NKF also experienced an increase in their Cash Assets by approximately $400,000 from $1,449,406 in June 2017 to $1,858,326 in June 2018 compared to the 2016/2017 year.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Papali’i Dr. Sam Petaia, stated in a signed statement that the 2017/2018 financial year was important for the Foundation in assessing new ways to meet the growing demands of its services.

“This was critical as 144 local people were given renal replacement therapy during the year compared to 127 for the 2016/2017 financial year,” he said.

The NKF of Samoa is mandated under the NKF of Samoa Act 2005 to: provide renal replacement therapy for people with end stage renal failure; to reduce the incidence of diseases that cause kidney failure; to provide information on kidney health.