A total of 199 patients with end stage kidney disease have died from 2021 to 2023, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said.
The Brunei Dialysis and Transplant Registry recorded 1,018 individuals experiencing end-stage kidney disease while 278 new patients enrolled in the dialysis and kidney transplant programme in 2023, he said in a message to mark World Kidney Day 2024.
It was also shared that diabetes remains the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in the country, contributing to 74 per cent of all end-stage kidney disease patients.
“Although there are various other causes, controlling major risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension remain fundamental to the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Increasing awareness, healthy lifestyle practices and adherence to treatment regimens can bring significant benefits, especially if these measures are initiated early and maintained consistently,” said the minister.
Over the past three decades, efforts in treating CKD have focused on the provision and delivery of kidney replacement therapy, namely treatment through hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplantation.
“Alhamdulillah, the people in the Sultanate are fortunate as healthcare services in the country are easily accessible to all,” said the minister. The treatment of CKD should begin early, with the hope of reducing complications and treatment costs.
The minister said despite the provision of treatment and medication free of charge, there are still those who undervalue the medications prescribed by doctors.
“Indeed, some are more inclined to take traditional medicines or supplements whose effectiveness and risks have not been proven, leading to delays and damage to their kidneys,” he said.
The government under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam ensures that medications provided to patients are appropriate and have a positive impact on their health, the minister said.
Alongside the provision of equitable treatment, the Ministry of Health will continue to strive to provide accessible healthcare to all, not only for kidney disease but also for all non-communicable diseases, in line with Brunei Vision 2035.
The minister added that globally, more than 850 million people are estimated to suffer from CKD. As the eighth leading cause of death worldwide, it caused 3.1 million deaths in 2019 alone. If left untreated, CKD is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said. – Adib Noor
