Kidney disease patients from a community on the Northern Territory's Tiwi Islands will soon access life saving dialysis closer to home with a new remote treatment room.
The NT Labor government announced the self-dialysis facility for people of Pirlangimpi on Melville Island who are suffering end stage renal failure on Friday.
Local member Lawrence Costa said his people have long been lobbying for the service.
"It's important for our mob to be able to be with family on country when they get sick," Mr Costa said
It's one of two facilities to be launched as part of the Gunner government's $11.1 million six-year expansion of renal services infrastructure.
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Health Minister Natasha Fyles said end stage renal failure is expected to increase dramatically in the Territory over coming years.
"We have the highest rates of kidney disease in the nation and Tiwi Islanders are among the worst affected in the world," Ms Fyles said.
"Preventing and treating the massive burden of kidney disease in the Territory was key to closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous life expectancy."
