Hyderabad, Jan 4 (FN Agency) NephroPlus, India’s largest dialysis network and a pioneer in redefining dialysis care in India, on Wednesday announced it has signed an INR 69.5 Crores financing package with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to set up four large dialysis centre in Uzbekistan. The transaction is a broader partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Republic of Uzbekistan, after securing a contract worth $100M, where NephroPlus will independently commission and operationalize these centres, Hyderabad-based dialysis service provider said in a release. The transaction comprises a loan of up to INR 41.7 Crores from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and administration by ADB of a loan of up to INR 27.8 Crores million from Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP). NephroPlus will primarily use the funds to design, build, operate and maintain the dialysis centres in Tashkent city, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Khorezm region.
The dialysis centre in Tashkent, with 160 machines capacity, will be the largest dialysis centre in the World. NephroPlus will provide it’s highly recognized quality dialysis care to over 1,100 patients in Uzbekistan. An estimated 30,000 patients currently suffer from Kidney failure in Uzbekistan, with an estimated shortage of over 3,500 dialysis machines in the country. Speaking on the transaction with ADB, Mr. Vikram Vuppala, Founder and CEO, NephroPlus, said,we are happy to be the private partner for Uzbekistan’s first international health care PPP and to embark on a relationship with an international financier such as ADB as we continue to grow our operations. Under this deal, ADB will also support NephroPlus in enhancing and implementing a gender action plan to increase women’s participation in technical and skilled work in dialysis treatment centres through specific training pieces and strengthen gender equality measures in its working environment.
“Dialysis allows people with kidney failure to lead productive lives. Unfortunately, the need for dialysis services in Uzbekistan has far outstripped supply, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic so this project will improve the availability and accessibility of much-needed dialysis services in the country,” said ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department Investment Specialist Amanda Tan. NephroPlus operates about 300 dialysis centres in more than 180 cities across 4 countries.