Foundation applauds World Health Assembly's landmark resolution on kidney disease
PETALING JAYA : With prevalence among adults increasing from 9.07% in 2011 to 15.48% in 2018, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern in Malaysia. Alarmingly, only 5% of individuals with CKD are aware of their condition.
Cases of end-stage renal disease are also on the rise: annually, more than 10,000 people are newly diagnosed as requiring renal replacement therapy or dialysis.
Indeed, over 50,000 Malaysians currently require dialysis treatments. If trends persist, it is projected this number could exceed 106,000 by 2040.
In light of this, the National Kidney Foundation Malaysia commends the World Health Assembly's (WHA) recent adoption of a groundbreaking resolution aimed at reducing the global burden of kidney disease. The WHA is the top decision-making body of the World Health Organization.
This pivotal move underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat kidney-related ailments, which have reached alarming levels in Malaysia.
Notably, this marks the first time kidney health has been formally prioritised within WHO's non-communicable disease (NCD) agenda.
It also aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third through prevention and treatment, while promoting mental health and well-being by 2030; and Target 3.8, which aims to achieve universal health coverage by that year.
Over 50,000 Malaysians currently require dialysis treatments – a number that could exceed 106,000 by 2040. (Bernama pic)
The adoption of the resolution represents a historic commitment by the global community to prioritise kidney health. With full implementation in Malaysia, it aims to achieve the following:
strengthen national kidney-disease prevention programmes, encouraging early screening and intervention to reduce new cases of CKD;
improve access to affordable, quality kidney care including dialysis and transplantation, especially for vulnerable groups such as the B40 community;
enhance health workforce capacity by training more nephrologists, dialysis nurses, and community health workers;
foster multisectoral collaboration involving health authorities, NGOs, the private sector, and community stakeholders to implement effective policies;
increase funding and resource allocation towards kidney health, supporting sustainable dialysis services and infrastructure expansion;
promote patient-centred care and equity, ensuring no Malaysian is denied access to life-saving treatment due to financial hardship or geographic barriers;
support data collection and research, enabling better understanding of the burden of kidney disease in Malaysia and guiding evidence-based interventions.
National Kidney Foundation chairman Dr Zaki Morad Zaher said the resolution's call for equitable and sustainable financing underscores the urgent need for universal access to kidney care, particularly for underserved communities such as those in rural Sabah and Sarawak, and among B40 groups.
'We hope this global commitment will inspire the government to enhance support through increased funding, expanded insurance coverage, and improved infrastructure,' he added.
'This includes greater investment in peritoneal dialysis, kidney transplantation, and early-stage interventions to slow the progression of kidney disease in Malaysia.'
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