Renal failure cases surge in Himachal, 60.2% of total chronic kidney disease patients are men
25,000 people suffering from such ailments, Tanda medical college alone provides advanced urology facilities
Kangra district is witnessing an alarming rise in renal failure cases and kidney-related ailments. The growing burden of patients has exposed significant gaps in super specialty care, as district hospitals lack qualified urologists and advanced treatment facilities.
Except Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College at Tanda in Kangra district, no other government hospital in the district is equipped to handle complicated urological and renal cases. As the Tanda hospital is already overburdened, a large number of patients are routinely referred to medical institutions in Punjab and Chandigarh, causing financial strain and emotional distress to the already vulnerable families.
As of now, around 25,000 people in Himachal Pradesh are suffering from kidney-related ailments, underscoring a growing public health concern in the state. Around 300 out-patient department (OPD) cases linked to kidney diseases are being registered in various government and private hospitals every day, reflecting the increasing burden on the healthcare system. However, there is no comprehensive and exact data available with any agency in the state .
A study conducted by a team of medical officers from the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, Shimla, has revealed that men are disproportionately affected, accounting for 60.2 per cent of the total chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, compared to 39.8 per cent women.
The findings further indicate that the disease is most prevalent among individuals aged 57 years and above, with the 57 to 67 years age group reporting the highest concentration of cases.
Significantly, the sharpest annual rise in CKD cases in the past decade was recorded in 2023. The share of CKD cases increased highest to 16.9 per cent of the total, marking a steep surge from just 6 per cent in 2017. The data points to an alarming upward trend that calls for urgent policy attention and strengthened healthcare interventions.
Dr Karan Sharma, a leading surgeon and chairman of Karan hospital, says that a steady increase in the cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD), urinary tract complications and kidney failure over the past few years and the rising incidence of kidney stone disease have emerged as a major public health issue in the hill state.
He attributes the high prevalence of kidney stones to the mineral composition of drinking water in several regions of Himachal Pradesh as the water sources there reportedly contain an elevated level of calcium oxalate. Inadequate hydration, dietary habits and delayed medical consultation further aggravate the condition. At present, every third patient in Kangra is suffering from a kidney ailment.
Dr Sharma says, “Patients from remote and tribal regions face bigger challenges due to difficult terrain, poor connectivity and limited access to specialist healthcare that to at the last stage. Many families are compelled to travel long distances to seek treatment often at a significant cost.”
A number of other health experts and public representatives have urged the state government to strengthen nephrology and urology services in district hospitals, appoint full-time super specialists and expand dialysis facilities in every hospital of all districts. They have also recommended regular monitoring of drinking water quality and the launch of awareness campaigns focusing on preventive healthcare, adequate fluid intake and early diagnosis.
As renal disorders are steadily increasing, experts warn that an urgent policy intervention, improved medical infrastructure and preventive health measures are essential to prevent the crisis from deepening. Besides, they also emphasise strengthening the urology departments in all medical colleges of the state so that no case is referred to the hospitals in Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. They say that crores of rupees are spent on health services in the state, but the situation is worsening and the government has not been able to strengthen the health infrastructure despite a manifold increase in the number of patients not only in the Tanda medial college but in all hospitals of the state.
They say that super specialists leaving state medical services is a matter of concern and the government should come out with a new pay and perks policy for them to retain them.
