Thailand fights against kidney disease

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health launched an intensive campaign against chronic kidney disease (CKD) as currently, there are about eight million patients, suffering from the disease in the country. According the Ministry, of the total, more than 70,000 patients were diagnosed with the last stage and required to undergo renal replacement therapies, forcing the government to spend 10 billion baht for medical care annually. The Ministry said less than 25 per cent of the patients with kidney failure failed to notice disease symptoms, leading to delayed treatment. The Ministry has urged people, particularly those with diabetes and high blood pressure, to take blood and urine tests. The health screening services by medical experts are an effective tool to find warning signs of kidney disease in the early stages. The Ministry added that it has opened renal replacement therapy units at hospitals and other public health centers nationwide to provide patients with greater access to treatment services. Also, it is hoping that the number of the patients getting kidney transplants will triple over the next five years following expanding services and organ donation campaigns. (TNA)