Post-Graduate Medical Institute Principal Professor Sajjad Hussain has said his institute is spending huge funds on treating kidney disease and dialysis is becoming a burden even on the health budgets of developed countries.
He said, "The whole world is trying to control these diseases through expanding preventive measures. The media and medical professionals should create awareness on the preventive measures. People, aged more than 50 years particularly hypertensive and diabetic patients, are at the risk of renal failure." His comments came on Thursday in a seminar on the "World Kidney Day" where Professors Fateh Khan Akhtar, Muhammad Nawaz Chughtai, Riaz Tasnim also made speeches.
"Only in USA 20 million cases of renal failure were being recorded annually. Even developed countries are worried about financial burden as a major portion of their health budget is being spent on the dialysis and treatment of kidney diseases," he added.
He said only 10 percent of patients had access to the health facilities or bear financial burden of its treatment. Professor Sajjad said the International Society of Nephrology, the International Kidney Foundation and other organisations were making all possible efforts to control the diseases. He said the Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons was also struggling for this cause.
He then stressed the need for an institute of urology and Nephrology in Punjab to produce qualified urologists and skilled paramedical staff in this field. A walk was also organised in connection with the World Kidney Day. Professor Fateh Khan Akhtar, Sajjad Hussain, Riaz Tasnim and Muhammad Nawaz Chughtai, MS LGH Dr Umar Farooq Balooch and Dr Abdul Basit also participated in the walk.