Kidney and Heart disease is a major health issue worldwide. It causes millions of deaths each year. 850 million people WORLDWIDE are now estimated to have kidney diseases from various causes. Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and Heart diseases cause at least 2.4 million deaths per year and are now the 6th fastest growing cause of death. In India about 80,000 patients are added annually to the pool of ESRD (End stage kidney disease), however only 2.4% undergo transplant The prevalence of CKD and Heart disease in the northeastern region is estimated to be around 12%-15%, which is higher than the national average of 10-12% In India diabetes and hypertension account for 40–60% of CKD cases A kidney transplant is often the treatment of choice for End Stage Kidney Disease compared with a lifetime on dialysis.
It is associated with a better quality of life In India every year nearly 150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get one. Lack of infrastructure, higher cost of transplantation, and dearth of facilitating organizations are the probable reasons for the poor state of organ donation in North-East India. In Assam, low organ donation rates stem from limited awareness and deep-rooted cultural beliefs. Many patients have to leave this region for transplantation every year. Keeping into account the increasing number of CKD patients and the need for transplant in the North east, in a hopeful and new development, Health city Hospital at Khanapara, Guwahati, have started kidney transplantation under the able guidance of Dr Sarbeswar Saharia.
The Kidney Transplant and Heart Transplant Unit is being formally inaugurated today by the CMD of Health city Hospital , Dr B N Das , Dr Sarbeswar Saharia, Padmashree Awardee and Dr Bhabani Prasad Chakraborty, Medical Director and Dr Biju Choudhury, Academic Director . The meeting is attended by Dr Atanu Borthakur, Director Medical Services, Dr Bikash Choudhury, Dr Pallavi Bordoloi, and senior doctors of the hospital. Recently , four kidney transplants were successfully conducted in the hospital . The patients were from different parts of Assam. All the patients have been discharged in a stable condition.
