Baxter Healthcare Ltd will distribute Nikkiso's home haemodialysis machines and related products across the UK.

Under the terms of a new agreement, Baxter will broaden its portfolio of renal homecare products to include Nikkiso's DBB-05 home haemodialysis machine and concentrates.

"Baxter is committed to helping patients with kidney disease achieve the best possible outcomes," said David Whitehouse Renal Business Unit Director, Baxter UK, "As the market leader in the UK for providing home dialysis through peritoneal dialysis products, we are delighted that we can now provide a complete and competitive home care renal portfolio in the UK."

The incidence of chronic kidney disease is growing at 5% per year, and about 25,000 patients in the UK are expected to be on renal dialysis by 2011. Dialysis in hospital takes four to five hours, and needs to be carried out up to three times a week.

"Increased patient choice, cost and capacity pressures on the NHS will mean that home dialysis will provide a solution for many patients," said David Whitehouse. "There is a clear requirement for the NHS to look towards alternatives to hospital treatment, especially with informed patients choosing to undertake their dialysis at home rather than travelling to hospital."

Baxter Healthcare Ltd is a major supplier of products for home dialysis. Nikkiso is a manufacturer of dialysis machines and related products.