How India's Kidney Health Crisis is Growing Unnoticed

With kidney disease affecting close to one-fifth of India's population, late diagnosis and limited access to treatment are turning it into a silent epidemic. Experts stress the need for early screening and better awareness.

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As the morning sun streamed through the window of a dialysis ward in a Delhi hospital, patients shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, adjusting the catheter in their arm. The steady hum of machines filled the room, a constant reminder that their lives had changed forever. Just a year ago, many of them were busy running businesses, managing households, and planning for their families’ futures. But now, three days a week, they spend hours hooked to dialysis machines, fighting a battle they never saw coming—chronic kidney disease (CKD), a silent epidemic creeping into millions of Indian households.

Experts warn that kidney diseases are rising at an alarming rate in India, with nearly 17% of the population affected, according to a study published in the Indian Journal of Nephrology. Yet, awareness remains dangerously low.

Late Diagnosis: A Hidden Danger

“Most people don‘t realize their kidneys are failing until it's too late. By the time symptoms appear including fatigue, swelling, or breathlessness, the majority of kidney function is already lost. At this stage, the damage is usually irreversible, making early detection through routine screening crucial,” said Dr. Umesh Gupta, Director, Nephrology, Aakash Healthcare.

What makes kidney disease particularly insidious is its deep connection to other common health conditions. Diabetes, for instance, is a major culprit.