Dialysis & Renal Care

KTMS has announced a total revenue target of 800 million baht for 2026, driven by the rising trend of kidney disease patients boosting demand for hemodialysis. The company plans to open 11 new dialysis units in the second half of 2026, with 4 units in the third quarter and 7 more in preparation. It will also install an additional 36-64 dialysis machines, increasing from the current 541, to serve over 120,000 dialysis patients nationwide. Ms. Kanjana Pongpatthanadet, Chief Executive Officer, revealed that Thailand has approximately 8 million people at risk of chronic kidney disease, with about 120,000 patients requiring hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is the primary treatment method chosen by 80% of patients. In the first half of 2026, the company reported revenue of 350.63 million baht, up 2.27% from the same period last year, and a net profit of 12.99 million baht.

According to the latest long-term care insurance business report released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on August 27, 2026, the number of people certified as requiring long-term care or support has reached 7.21 million, with approximately one in three people aged 75 or older receiving such certification. Based on calculations using the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 2025 average results, a household of a married couple aged 65 or older with no employment faces a monthly deficit of about 42,434 yen, resulting in a shortfall of approximately 15.28 million yen over 30 years. For single-person households, the monthly deficit is about 29,980 yen, totaling approximately 10.79 million yen over 30 years. Adding the average long-term care cost of about 5.42 million yen and a reserve fund of 3 million yen, the total exceeds 20 million yen, making the 20 million yen retirement figure a realistic defense line. Additionally, the number of insured persons aged 65 or older (Category 1 insured) was 35.84 million, a decrease of 50,000 from the previous year, but the number of certified persons increased by 120,000, indicating that while the overall elderly population is declining, the demand for long-term care continues to rise.

Bloomberg reports that Taiwan's population may decline to about 12.15 million by 2075, a drop of roughly 48% from 2026 levels, amid a continued decrease in births and young population, while the number of elderly rises significantly, posing long-term challenges to the labor market, economy, and defense capabilities. Estimates from Taiwan's National Development Council (NDC), based on household registration data, indicate that the working-age population will shrink by nearly two-thirds over the next 50 years. By 2075, the population aged 0-14 will be only 585,000, the working-age population (15-64) will be about 5.13 million, and those aged 65 and above will reach 6.43 million, meaning the elderly will outnumber the working-age population and account for more than half of the total population. These figures reflect risks after the population peaked at 23.6 million in 2019, and could also affect Taiwan's security, as the military still relies partly on conscription amid threats from China.

Praram 9 Hospital, or PR9, said its third-quarter 2026 operating performance is showing growth compared with a year earlier, driven by a rise in foreign patients, especially from the Middle East and Myanmar, as well as more Thai patients returning for treatment. Its second-half strategy is to upgrade care for complex diseases such as kidney disease, heart disease and brain disorders, along with robotic surgery, to attract foreign patients who fly in directly for treatment. Foreign patients currently account for about 27% of the total, with Myanmar and Middle Eastern patients together making up more than half of all foreign patients. The company is confident that 2026 revenue will grow by a single-digit percentage as planned, and is also watching opportunities from Moderna and Merck's mRNA cancer vaccines, as well as government policy that could shift civil servant welfare benefits to a health insurance system, which would create a new customer base for private hospitals.

Praram 9 Hospital is moving forward with upgrading itself into a regional specialty medical center to attract foreign patients seeking treatment for complex diseases. The Myanmar patient group grew 55.8% compared to the same period last year, setting a new quarterly record and helping drive a 6.8% increase in inpatients treated for complex conditions. The hospital is preparing to open a Biplane Cath Lab and a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy center, while investing in the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, a premium dialysis center, and new HIS and ERP systems. It maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2 times and has received the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2026 in the Health Promotion category.

The global chronic kidney disease market is projected to grow from $40.8 billion in 2022 to $131.4 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 9.3% during the 2025-2030 forecast period, according to BCC Research. North America is expected to remain the largest market, with projected revenues of $37.5 billion by 2030, supported by advanced healthcare infrastructure and comprehensive insurance coverage. Key drivers include rising disease prevalence linked to diabetes and hypertension, aging populations, and healthcare infrastructure investment, particularly in dialysis capacity in emerging markets. The market is led by established pharmaceutical companies such as Fresenius Medical Care AG, Baxter, DaVita Inc., Amgen Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Novartis AG, while emerging technologies like bioartificial kidneys and AI-powered early detection systems represent next-generation treatment paradigms.

The U.S. Justice Department closed a criminal probe into Abbott Laboratories over its handling of a baby formula plant linked to potentially deadly bacteria and infant deaths, opting instead for civil penalties. Some prosecutors believed they had evidence to charge the company under food safety laws, but top decision makers chose to claw back money earned through federally funded nutrition programs. Separately, AstraZeneca reached a partnership worth up to $1.77 billion with China's CSPC Pharmaceutical Group to develop and commercialize kidney disease treatments, with CSPC entitled to $30 million upfront and up to $1.74 billion in milestone payments. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a program offering GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to Medicare enrollees for $50 per month starting July 1, benefiting several million Americans and extending through 2027. The Trump administration also proposed reducing payment rates for drugs under the 340B program, aiming to cut U.S. drug spending by roughly $5.7 billion as early as next year.