Securing Access to Hemodialysis Care After Typhoon Hagibis in Fukushima

While disaster support can be deployed rapidly, 1 on-site staff must begin responding before their arrival and continue working for the long term. [...]their actions are vital to ensuring health-care access for affected populations. Soma Central Hospital (Soma, Fukushima Prefecture) is located 40 km north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. During the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, hemodialysis patients were transferred to other facilities because water shortages, blackouts, and the lack of staff impeded hospital work. 2,3 It would be important for on-site staff to evaluate the extent of damage to hemodialysis care capabilities after a major disaster and compensate for it if possible.