BRAC Bank facilitated more than 5,000 free kidney dialysis sessions in 2024 for underserved patients at Kidney Foundation Hospital Sylhet (KFS), according to a press release.
The initiative, run under the bank’s flagship CSR health programme Aporajeyo Ami, aims to make life-saving dialysis accessible to those unable to bear the cost. KFS has dedicated an entire floor as the Sir Fazle Hasan Abed Kidney Dialysis Centre in honour of the BRAC and BRAC Bank founder, with the bank providing annual support.
Currently, 120 patients receive treatment with BRAC Bank’s backing, most of which is provided free of charge. Dialysis sessions are allocated based on financial capability to ensure the most vulnerable benefit.
In Bangladesh, dialysis costs range between Tk 2,000 and Tk 3,000 per session, with patients often requiring multiple sessions weekly over extended periods, creating a heavy financial burden for low-income families.
BRAC Bank’s support to KFS began in 2019 when it became the first organisation to donate dialysis machines to the hospital, providing four units to expand capacity. The bank has also set up a fully operational oxygen plant at the hospital, supplying medical-grade oxygen for surgeries, ICUs, and critical treatment processes.
BRAC Bank Chairperson Meheriar M Hasan said Sir Fazle Hasan Abed believed essential healthcare should never be a matter of privilege and the bank was continuing that vision through sustained action. KFS General Secretary Colonel Mohammad Abdus Salam BP (Retd) said the support ensures no patient is turned away for lack of means and strengthens the hospital’s mission of equitable care.
The bank plans to support an additional 4,000 free dialysis sessions this year, continuing its commitment to serve with dignity, care, and impact.