Transcript
In the past the government has said it doesn't have the budget to help patients as a dialysis machine costs up to US$2.3 million.
The Tonga Dialysis Foundation President Siosaia Moehau says they submitted a proposal to government over a year ago to partner with a Fiji company to open a dialysis clinic but have not heard back.
"I think it's all about an attitude problem. We already demonstrated to them that we can do the whole thing ourselves, with our donors and our partners. It seems that they are still restricted to some sort of thing, which we don't understand."
Mr Moehau says the Mormon church is one of several donors who can finance the project but wants a letter of approval and support from the government before releasing funds.
But the government says it is aiming to address renal failure and kidney disease by managing diabetes first.
The Ministry of Health CEO Siale 'Akauola says because the majority of kidney disease cases develop from diabetes, the government is focused on prevention.
"That's the focus, to promote good healthy living so that people do not develop diabetes in the first place and then the second one of course, if you have diabetes, then aggressively manage diabetes to a very good level you will never develop renal disease. We've had diabetics who are well managed, they live healthy lives even into their 70s and 80s."
Dr Siale 'Akauola says 'in principle' the government would support a private dialysis facility.
But the Tonga Dialysis Foundation is still waiting for a letter from government.
A former international rugby player who says he is stranded overseas because of kidney disease has added his voice to the calls for dialysis treatment to be provided in Tonga.
Twenty-seven-year old Sione Vaiomo'unga played for Tonga at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and then secured a contract to play in Romania.
However, during his first season he was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2014 and has been in Romania since receiving the necessary dialysis treatment that is unavailable in Tonga.
"I don't have diabetes, the doctor here doesn't now how or why I have kidney failure, they don't find the reason why but they just said my kidneys not working anymore. I know Tonga have not approved dialysis in Tonga because of all the expenses but I know for sure not only us rugby players are having kidney failure. I'm sure there's lots of people in Tonga that have it. They do need help, as lucky for us, we have been struggling in a place where we can get help, if we were in Tonga I don't know what's gonna happen."
The TDF says there are hundreds of people waiting for dialysis in Tonga.
Mr Vaiomo'unga says the government needs to look after its people.
In the meantime, Mr Vaiomo'unga says he is hoping for a transplant so he can one day return to Tonga to be with his parents who he hasn't seen in three years.
"I am staying here because it is the only option for me now. For me, I always want to move from here, some place close to Tonga but I remain because I need treatment but I would love to go back to Tonga."
The Tongan government says up to 17 percent of the population is diabetic but there is no current data on kidney disease available.
