World Kidney Day @ Manipal Hospital

40-plus? Get a kidney check!

Speakers stress on relation between high blood pressure and kidney disease

Stressing on the need to create awareness about kidney disease, Manipal Institute of Nephrology & Urology & Manipal Hospital, one of the leading healthcare providers in Bangalore, observed World Kidney Day on 12th March.
Chief Guest, Minister for Medical Education, Ramachandra Gowda stressed on the fact that kidney disease has reached pandemic proportions and unfortunately is not recognized early in its course where it is completely curable. The minister also said that the government along with the professionals in the field will help create awareness of kidney disease so that it can
be detected early and the devastating effects of severe chronic disease can be prevented.
High blood pressure and diabetes are leading cause of kidney disease and need to be detected and treated early, the minister added. 
The government Nephrology centre at Victorioa Hospital Campus has a record of treating kidney problems. It has treated 6112 as outpatients, provided dialysis to 8697, conducted 5133 operations. It charges only Rs.500/- for dialysis.
Also present on the occasion were Mr. Kailash, Member of Legislative Council of Karnataka and Mr. Srinivasachary, Commissioner Health & family Welfare and Ayush services as the guests of honour.
Sri Kailash, who  recently underwent  Kidney treatment at Manipal and is now on dialysis said that for him it was a rebirth.
The government is setting up Nephrology Kidney specialty hospitals in 8 districts and will cover more districts of Karnataka for the benefit of poor and middle class people, he said.
Dr. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Medical Advisory Board, Manipal Health Systems and Director Manipal Institute of Nephrology and Urology said "All over the world diabetes and hypertension are the most common causes of kidney disease. This year the focus of the World Kidney Day is on high blood pressure and kidney disease. High blood pressure not only causes kidney disease but kidney disease also causes high blood pressure and unfortunately both of them are silent diseases." If detected and treated kidney disease is completely controllable he added.
"In India, more than 10% of the population has kidney disease and about a quarter million people die of kidney disease every year because of lack of facilities and lack of financial resources and non-availability of kidney services. If we were to treat every patient for severe renal kidney disease in the form of dialysis/transplantation it would cost the exchequer more than 30 thousand crores a year which is not affordable. So our aim and goals are to detect kidney disease early, where the diagnosis can be made with a very simple blood and urine test and the treatment is inexpensive" said, Dr. Sudarshan Ballal.
It is estimated that 10 12% of the population all across the globe including India has some form of kidney disease and over a million people have reached End Stage Kidney Disease requiring dialysis or transplantation. Billions of dollars are spent in treating end stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplantation of patients which is a terrible economic drain that most countries especially the developing countries cannot afford.

"Awareness of kidney disease will prompt more and more people to get their kidney functions checked early in the course of the disease rather than when it is very late and unaffordable. Anyone who has diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, over the age of 40 years, previous history of kidney disease or family history of kidney disease needs to be checked for kidney disease, added Dr. Ballal.

About Manipal Health Systems:
Manipal Health Systems is one of the key enterprises that emerged from the dream of the great visionary, Padmashree Dr. TMA Pai. Together with Manipal University the group offers Tertiary, Secondary and Primary healthcare delivery services from 17 hospitals, 9 primary Care Clinics and 55 community Health Programs. With over 7000 beds, 1700 doctors, 15 Lac Out-Patients & 4 Lac inpatients annually, and a rich history of over 50 years, it is today one of the largest healthcare delivery systems in Asia.