Ecuador and Mexico Tackle Kidney Disease Crisis with Policy Forum and Public Campaign

In Ecuador, health, legal and academic specialists gathered at the "Ecuador sin Diálisis" forum to address a growing dialysis crisis affecting thousands of patients. Participants called for stronger public health policy, improved coordination among the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) and other agencies, and a renewed role for the health ministry as the system's lead authority. The forum aimed to produce a technical roadmap to sustain renal care and prevent treatment interruptions that have sparked recent patient protests.

Meanwhile, in Mexico's Aguascalientes state, Deputy Alma Hilda Medina Macías announced an intensified "How Do You Care for Your Kidneys?" campaign. The initiative deploys house‑to‑house and street brigades to screen residents for chronic kidney disease, a condition that has placed Aguascalientes at the top of global rankings for kidney ailments among 25‑ to 45‑year‑olds. Free, reliable tests are offered to detect the silent disease early, reducing the need for dialysis and lowering social and economic costs.

Both efforts highlight rising concerns over renal health, emphasizing early detection, coordinated public policy and community outreach to mitigate the disease’s impact on young, productive populations.