Diaverum, a renal care specialist under Abu Dhabi-based M42, has entered the Kyrgyz market through the acquisition and launch of a dialysis facility in the capital Bishkek, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. The move coincides with the provider marking a decade since its initial entry into neighboring Kazakhstan in 2015, where it has since scaled significantly. M42 views the dual development as a key step in broadening its regional footprint following its acquisition of Diaverum, which positioned the group as one of the world’s largest renal care networks. The expansion targets improved access to life-enhancing kidney treatments in underserved areas across Central Asia.
Company data from Diaverum Kazakhstan shows the network has expanded from an initial nine clinics serving around 300 patients in 2015 to 54 clinics treating more than 3,000 patients by 2024. This sixfold growth in turnover over eight years established Diaverum as the largest dialysis provider in the country, with operations spanning major cities and smaller regional centers. The provider also began supplying dialysis consumables and equipment to Kyrgyzstan in 2020 through its distribution arm, laying groundwork for the full market entry now underway. Such scaling has required substantial investment in infrastructure and local staff training across the region.
An assessment published in the Kidney International Supplements by the International Society of Nephrology found the median prevalence of treated kidney failure in the Newly Independent States and Russia region stood at 411 per million population in 2023, below the global median of 822.8. The same report placed the median chronic kidney disease prevalence in the region at 11.4 percent, higher than the global median of 9.5 percent. In Kazakhstan specifically, the prevalence of treated kidney failure reached 211 per million population, with roughly 2,800 patients receiving dialysis services nationwide, according to government-aligned figures referenced in company updates. Diaverum has accounted for about 30 percent of private dialysis provision in Kazakhstan.
M42 completed its acquisition of Diaverum in 2023 from Bridgepoint Group, a transaction that a statement from the healthcare group described as a major milestone in its global expansion strategy. The deal integrated Diaverum’s network of more than 440 clinics across 23 countries at the time with M42’s tech-enabled platforms focused on precision and personalized care. Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, group chief executive of M42, said in the acquisition announcement, “Diaverum is an exceptional company providing vital treatments that enable patients suffering from chronic kidney disease to live fulfilling lives.” The combined entity has since pursued deeper penetration in emerging markets including Central Asia.
Dimitris Moulavasilis, chief executive of Diaverum, noted in a 2023 statement tied to the M42 transaction that the partnership would strengthen the company’s position as a global leader in renal care while driving international growth through digital innovations. The Kyrgyzstan entry builds on existing distribution activities that have supplied equipment to multiple facilities in the country since 2020, according to Diaverum’s operational records. Local teams in Bishkek will now deliver full clinical services including hemodialysis, aligning with standards established in the Kazakh operations. This progression reflects coordinated efforts to address rising demand for specialized kidney care.
A separate analysis in The Lancet Global Health projected that Central Asia recorded approximately 28,200 cases of kidney failure requiring replacement therapy in 2023, part of a broader global total exceeding 4.5 million. The International Society of Nephrology data additionally highlighted variations in dialysis center availability, with Kazakhstan reporting increases in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis facilities since 2019. Diaverum’s regional leadership has emphasized training for local nephrologists and nurses to maintain clinical quality across its expanding network. Further ties with Uzbekistan are under development as the company extends its supply and service model.
