Tamil Nadu kidney failure rates rise, prompting calls for 500 dialysis centers

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has called for the expansion of dialysis centers to 500 across Tamil Nadu, including primary health centers, to address rising rates of kidney failure in the state.

According to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research, the prevalence of kidney failure in Tamil Nadu is 4.30%, which is higher than the national average of 3.20%. Tamil Nadu currently ranks fifth in India for kidney disease, following Telangana, Goa, Odisha, and Kerala.

A study by the Social Medicine Institute of Madras Medical College indicated a worsening situation, with 8.40% of those surveyed suffering from third-stage kidney failure or higher. The report notes that the rise in kidney issues is linked to high diabetes rates in the region, with approximately 40% of diabetic patients suffering from severe kidney failure.