Experts call for lower kidney treatment costs, wider facilities

Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday urged the government to take necessary steps to reduce the cost of kidney disease treatment, expand medical facilities across the country and launch large-scale awareness programmes to prevent the life-threatening disease.

They emphasised the need for effective strategies to enhance early detection, prevention and treatment accessibility, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts among medical institutions, policymakers and the media.

The Kidney Awareness Monitoring and Prevention Society (KAMPS), a voluntary organisation, organised the roundtable titled “Climate Change and Kidney Disease: Risks and Solutions” at National Press Club ahead of World Kidney Day 2026.

Eminent educationist and social reformer Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, founder of Bishwa Shahittya Kendro, attended the event as the key speaker.

The session was presided over and moderated by KAMPS Chairman and Head of Department of Nephrology at Anwar Khan Modern Hospital, Professor Dr M A Samad.

In his keynote address, Prof Samad said the theme of World Kidney Day 2026 focuses on the impact of climate change and environmental factors behind unexplained kidney diseases.

Referring to World Health Organization (WHO), he said kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with around 850 million people suffering from the condition. In Bangladesh, the disease is gradually turning into an epidemic, while climate change and environmental factors have emerged as new threats in recent years.

He noted that about 38 million people in Bangladesh are affected by kidney-related problems, and nearly 80,000 patients require dialysis each year. However, he said 60 to 70 percent of kidney disease cases could be prevented through awareness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Chairman of Bangladesh Kidney Foundation Prof Dr Harunur Rashid said controlling kidney disease would be difficult without addressing major risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

He said lack of awareness remains a key challenge, adding that the disease is easier to treat if detected at the first or second stage, but becomes extremely difficult to cure once it progresses to advanced stages.

Health Education and Family Welfare Secretary Jobaida Begum, National Press Club President Sufia Begum, Kaler Kantho editor and poet Hasan Hafiz, President of Bangladesh Renal Association Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, President of the Paediatric Nephrology Society of Bangladesh Prof Dr Afroza Begum, and Assistant Professor Dr Farhad Hasan Chowdhury, member secretary of Bangladesh Renal Association, also spoke at the event.

Others who addressed the discussion included former government secretary Khondoker Mostan Hossain, KAMPS General Secretary Prof Dr Harisul Haque, Prof Dr Fazlur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh, BGMEA director Mijanur Rahman Pintu, Bangla Academy writer on nature and plants Mokarram Hossain, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) General Secretary Alamgir Kabir, Kumudini Women’s Medical College Principal Prof Dr Md Abdul Halim, Bangladesh Cricket Board chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, KAMPS Executive Director Rezwan Salehin and KAMPS founder vice-president poet Nasrin Begum.

The speakers also appreciated KAMPS for its continuous efforts over the past 22 years in raising awareness about kidney disease, providing low-cost treatment services and expanding dialysis facilities in different parts of the country.