Pictures by Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata, 25th July 2026: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has emerged as one of the fastest-growing public health concerns worldwide and thousands continue to rely on lifelong dialysis due to delayed diagnosis and limited awareness. Thus, with an aim to provide holistic information under one roof, Manipal Hospital Dhakuria organised Dialysis Patient Summit, an initiative by the Manipal Institute of Nephrology & Urology. The unique patient-centric programme brought together more than 50 dialysis patients, individuals awaiting dialysis, kidney transplant recipients and their caregivers to create a platform for learning, interaction and shared experiences. The summit was moderated by Dr. Arghya Majumdar, Advisor & Senior Consultant Department of Nephrology & Kidney Transplant and Dr. Upal Sengupta, Director and Clinical Lead, Department Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Manipal Hospital Dhakuria. The program also witnessed the presence of Dr Bastab Ghosh Consultant Urologist.
The programme commenced with a ceremonial lamp-lighting, followed by an interactive panel discussion on Kidney Health, where the doctors addressed common misconceptions surrounding kidney disease, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis, discussed advancements in dialysis, kidney transplantation, and encouraged patients to seek timely medical intervention. The session also highlighted lifestyle modifications, nutritional management and adherence to treatment as key pillars in managing chronic kidney disease.
To ensure patients received personalised guidance, dedicated interaction kiosks were set up by multidisciplinary teams from Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dialysis Services and Peritoneal Dialysis, enabling attendees to discuss their concerns directly with experts and receive holistic counselling tailored to their individual needs. Adding a personal touch to the event, there was an essay competition, where patients shared inspiring stories of resilience, hope and determination throughout their treatment journeys. Santanu Chatterjee, Susanta Ganguly, Paras Sharma, Projesh Kumar Ghosh, Maloya Talapatra, Sarthak Das and Dr. Kaberi Choudhuri were felicitated during a prize distribution ceremony by the attending doctors in recognition of their courage and perseverance.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Arghya Majumdar, "In view of the growing burden of chronic kidney disease there is an urgent need for greater patient awareness and preventive action. Once the patient reaches end stage renal disease, their lives become quite miserable & they become incapacitated. Dialysis or renal replacement therapy is much more than a medical procedure, it is a life-changing journey that affects patients physically, emotionally and socially & allows them to live life again. Through this summit, we wanted to create a platform where patients could have easy access to specialists, ask questions without hesitation, learn from the doctor and one another and understand that with timely and regular treatment, proper nutrition and adherence to medical advice, they can continue to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives and achieve their potential.”
Dr. Upal Sengupta, said, "With over 2 lakh people in India developing end-stage kidney disease every year, the need for timely intervention and greater awareness around kidney transplantation has never been more critical. For eligible patients, a kidney transplant offers better long-term survival and a significantly improved quality of life compared to lifelong dialysis. However, misconceptions and a lack of awareness often delay timely decisions. Through initiatives like this, we aim to educate patients, dispel myths and encourage informed conversations about transplantation, while reinforcing the importance of early diagnosis and regular kidney health screening."
While sharing his inspiring journey during the summit, Mr. Arup Kumar Das, a 52-year-old government employee, from Barrackpore and a kidney transplant recipient, said, "When I was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2007