Malaysia set to be tops in kidney failure from diabetes

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Malaysia will become the country with the highest rate of kidney failure patients from diabetes by 2030, if the people’s unhealthy lifestyle continues, says Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya.

“The main cause of kidney failure in the country has been found to be due to diabetes, and there are currently 3.5 million diabetic patients in the country.

“Currently, there are about 40,000 kidney failure cases in the country and 25% of the patients are seeking treatment at government facilities, while the rest are going to private hospitals, clinics and NGOs.

“This is a big burden to the Government.

“If people continue with their current lifestyle, they risk running into many health complications as diabetic patients are likely to end up with kidney failure,” he told reporters during the World Kidney Day celebration at the Province Wellesley Renal Medifund Dialysis Centre here yesterday.

Dr Hilmi added that without intervention, Malaysia will be the country with the highest rate of kidney failure due to diabetes by 2030.

“We are already the country with the highest obesity rate in Asean followed by Thailand and Singa­pore.

“The National Health and Morbi­dity Survey (NHMS) 2015 by the Health Ministry showed that 30% of adults aged 18 years and above were overweight while 18% were reported to be obese.

“Various campaigns are being conducted to urge Malaysians to change their lifestyle and diet, and exercise more,” he said, adding that the Government spent RM2.2bil to provide medicines to patients in hospitals last year.

Also present at the event was the non-profit dialysis centre’s president Goik Hock Lai, who said they had 37 machines to serve 68 patients.