MEDIA INTERVIEW WITH :

PROF. JOHN FEEHALLY, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY

TIME 4.00 PM, THURSDAY, 18th AUGUST, 2011

VENUE: JPAC BOARD ROOM,
MULJIBHAI PATEL UROLOGICAL HOSPITAL, NADIAD
WWW.MPUH.ORG


Prof. John Feehally, President of International Society of Nephrology briefed the media about glomerular diseases (leakage of blood and/or protein) that damage the microscopic filters of kidney, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. Dr. MM Rajapurkar and Dr. Sishir Gang also spoke on the subject and on the two-day seminar on ‘Glomerular Diseases. The seminar is being attended by 150 practicing nephrologists and nephrology students from different regions of India.

CKD is becoming endemic, and more and more people in the developing countries including India are becoming CKD patients, the economic and other costs of which are huge in terms of suffering to the patients, their loved ones and also to the society. In India End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) affects as much as 1.8% of our population and about 17% are at a risk of developing kidney diseases. Even the rich countries are finding it difficult to fund cost of dialysis / kidney transplants. Kidney disease can also lead to heart attacks. Therefore, the only solution is to build awareness, and take steps to detect the disease early. Early detection is possible, it is easy, and it is not costly. Simple test of urine and blood can help diagnose the problem.

People can take preventive steps by eating proper diet (avoiding processed/packaged food, tobacco and controlling intake of fat, salt, etc), regular physical exercise, and controlling weight. Studies have shown that maternal nutrition is also important. Mal-nourished babies are more likely to develop diabetes and kidney disease.

What can be done? Screening should be made simple and cheap. This can be done by training people to check blood pressure; no need for doctors and nurses; no need for special scan. The high risk population who should undergo the simple tests consists of people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases and/or those in whose family there are kidney patients. The CKD can be prevented in most cases if detected early and treatment is taken. The tests are simple and cost effective. Unfortunately there is lack of awareness not just in the general public, but even among many doctors and the Governments. Even the UN and WHO have not adequately appreciated the need to highlight the causes and effects of CKD. There is a special meeting of WHO scheduled in September in the US on non-communicable diseases and it is hoped that the WHO will make an appropriate statement to address the problem globally.

Live donor transplants are the best solution for those with failed kidney. However, paid donor transplant and medical tourism for transplant should be banned. In fact ‘Istanbul Declaration’ is against paid donation of kidneys. Cadaver (brain dead donor) transplant in registered hospitals should also be encouraged. Brain dead donor can also donate liver and heart. There is a need to build awareness about the steps to be taken to ensure successful cadaver transplants.

The International Society of Nephrology aims to (i) improve renal pathology (ii) invest in training to conduct lab tests to detect kidney diseases and (iii) improve/identify lab test centres for CKD at different parts of India, Prof Feehally said. He also appreciated the high quality of medical care and the financial model followed in MPUH Nadiad.

(compiled by P A Joseph, )