Govt to procure 1,000 dialysis machines to enhance kidney care: Health secretary

To provide treatment to the growing number of kidney patients, the government has decided to procure 1,000 dialysis machines, said Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman. 

"The process to purchase the machines is ongoing. However, simply increasing the number of machines is not enough — preventive measures are also essential," he said during a session titled "Kidney Transplantation" at the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Conference 2025 at the Bangladesh Kidney Foundation auditorium in Dhaka's Mirpur 2 today.  

Nearly 2 crore people in Bangladesh suffer from various kidney complications, yet about 70% of patients in need of dialysis are unable to access the service. 

To address this crisis, the government is procuring equipment and making legal reforms to ease the process of kidney transplantation.

The three-day session will continue through Monday.

Speaking as the chief guest, the health secretary said that efforts are being made to include kidney disease awareness in school curricula and that the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology (NIKDU) has been assigned the responsibility of creating a national registry of kidney patients.

"There are legal complexities in kidney transplantation. The government is working to amend the law, and we welcome public opinions on the matter," he added.

Professor Dr Harun-or-Rashid, chairman of the Bangladesh Kidney Foundation, stated, "There are 250 dialysis centres across the country, 80% of which are located in Dhaka. If the newly purchased machines are installed outside Dhaka, it would significantly improve access to dialysis services nationwide." 

He also pointed out the severe shortage of skilled personnel in kidney treatment.

Professor Dr Muhammad Rafiqul Alam, former chairman, Department of Nephrology, of Bangladesh Medical University, said, "Donor shortage is the primary obstacle to kidney transplantation. Many people wish to donate out of emotion, but existing legal barriers often prevent this. Therefore, it's crucial to develop a practical and effective policy."

Dr Nazrul Islam, professor of Bangladesh Medical University, mentioned that while the country requires around 5,000 kidney transplants annually, on average, only about 120 patients manage to receive kidneys from relatives each year. 

"If organ donation from brain-dead individuals can be introduced, this crisis could be significantly reduced," he said.