Objective: To estimate and compare direct costs per hemodialysis session in public and private units in Mexico City.
Material and methods: PAATI, a microcosting strategy, was used to determine total costs of four public and two private health hospitals in Mexico City. A "shadow study" approach was employed to collect the needed data. Charts containing the "PAATI" information for each session were developed in Microsoft Excel.
Results: The average annual cost per patient undergoing hemodialysis in public units is $158 964.00 MX. The estimated cost for the care of all population estimated in need of renal replacement therapy (via hemodialysis) was estimated to be $10 921 788 072.00 MX.
Conclusion: Human resources and infrastructure availability in México are very limited for nephrology, and in consequence for offering hemodialysis services.