Odisha Pioneers India's First Statewide Chronic Kidney Disease Registry
Odisha is making medical history. The state government plans to launch India's first comprehensive chronic kidney disease registry by March 31. This groundbreaking initiative will provide crucial data about CKD prevalence across the entire state.
Addressing a Critical Data Gap
Susanta Kumar Swain, additional director of health services for non-communicable diseases, explained the urgent need for this registry. "No state in India currently maintains a complete CKD registry," he stated. "The Nephrologists Association of India launched one earlier, but it's inactive now. Very little data appears on the existing CKD registry portal."
The registry will solve this information shortage. Government officials will use the collected data to prepare action plans and develop targeted programs to combat kidney disease effectively.
Building a Robust Implementation Structure
Odisha has established a strong organizational framework to ensure the registry's success. The state formed a 12-member task force under the chief secretary's leadership to oversee the entire CKD registry project.
A technical sub-committee, also called the state working group, supports this task force. This committee includes 17 members representing diverse expertise:
- Medical experts from AIIMS and ICMR
- Representatives from various health institutes
- Officials from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board
- Members from the Panchayati Raj and drinking water department
- Geologists and other specialists
This technical committee currently analyzes all aspects of the registry implementation. Their comprehensive approach ensures multiple perspectives inform the project.
Creating a Comprehensive Reporting System
The registry will capture data from healthcare institutions at every level. "Starting from primary health centers up to medical colleges, each facility will report CKD cases," Swain confirmed.
The government has allocated specific funds to accelerate this work. The National Informatics Centre is developing specialized software to power the registry system. This technological backbone will streamline data collection and analysis.
Understanding Odisha's CKD Landscape
Current data reveals significant gaps in CKD understanding. "We only have information about dialysis patients, who represent about 10% of total CKD cases," Swain noted. "The remaining 90% are in early CKD stages."
Among known CKD cases in Odisha:
- Approximately 60% involve patients with diabetes and hypertension
- The remaining 40% fall under CKD of unknown origin
Odisha reported 19,888 CKD cases and 4,718 CKD-related deaths over the past three years. CKD prevalence reaches about 14% among residents aged 15 and above.
Transforming Kidney Disease Management
The registry aims to identify previously undetected CKD patients. "We're carrying out this program to detect and treat patients early," Swain emphasized. Early detection through systematic tracking could significantly improve treatment outcomes.
Official sources highlight additional benefits. The registry will establish a baseline for future CKD research and analysis. This comprehensive data collection represents a major advancement in public health management for kidney diseases.
Odisha's initiative sets a national precedent. Other states may follow this model to better understand and address chronic kidney disease within their populations.
