Aiming to increase awareness and screen for kidney disease among 7.2 million Thai people by 2027
A national alliance, led by Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, The Kidney Foundation of Thailand, The Nephrology Society of Thailand, and AstraZeneca Thailand together announce a launch of “Groundbreaking Early Screening Initiative for Chronic Kidney Disease in Thailand as Part of the “7.2 Million Thais to Know Their Kidney Risk Project Under the Royal Kidney Disease Prevention Initiative.” This collaboration aims to systematically enhance chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening and early-stage care, targeting 7.2 million at-risk Thais nationwide by 2027. The national alliance will drive positive change through 3 approaches which are:
- CKD registry and dashboard development that aims to improve the quality of care and empower future research opportunities
- Proteinuria testing with urine dipsticks which is a globally recognized method used to detect protein in urine that is simple, fast, and efficient
- Building a stronger Village Health Volunteer network which aims to increase direct-to-local screening and proactively raise awareness of chronic kidney disease locally
This initiative marks another significant step for Thailand in advancing a proactive, comprehensive, and sustainable kidney disease screening system, while also honoring Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the auspicious occasion of her 72nd birthday.
Dr. Krisada Hanbunjerd, Director of Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, stated: “Chronic non-communicable diseases, particularly chronic kidney disease, represent a significant public health challenge in our country. Thailand is among the top five countries in the world with the highest incidence rates of chronic kidney disease. Currently, approximately 9.7 million people are affected by this condition, with 1.12 million people entering the treatment system in fiscal year 2024, the patients are expected to rise. This situation has a substantial impact on health, quality of life, and the economy, causing around 1.6 trillion baht annually. As a response, the Ministry of Public Health has launched several initiatives to reduce the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Thailand. One of the most important initiatives is '7.2 Million Thais Know Their Kidney Disease Risk' project under the Royal Initiative for Kidney Disease Prevention which started in March 2025. This project aims to screen 7.2 million at-risk Thais nationwide by 2027, offering diagnosis and timely care to patients with chronic kidney disease.
“This issue underscores the urgent need for joint efforts between the public and private sectors to systematically address kidney disease and foster long-term prevention. Today, we are launching “Groundbreaking Early Screening Initiative for Chronic Kidney Disease in Thailand” with AstraZeneca Thailand as the leading private sector partner for the first time in Thailand. This initiative marks a pivotal step toward transforming this mission into tangible outcomes. We will implement three core approaches: (1) developing a CKD registry and dashboard monitoring which will allow our team to evaluate and manage resources more effectively, laying a vital foundation for improving quality of care and future research; (2) supporting the distribution of urine dipstick test kits across all 13 health regions; and (3) strengthening collaboration with village health volunteers to improve direct-to-local screening, raise awareness of kidney disease risks, and promote healthier lifestyle changes at the community level. These efforts are expected to contribute to a stronger, more inclusive, and sustainable Thai healthcare system,” added Dr. Krisada.
Dr. Vuddhidej Ophascharoensuk, President of The Nephrology Society of Thailand, revealed: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health challenge, with over 850 million people affected worldwide and millions more in the end stages requiring renal replacement therapy. In Thailand, there is also a significant number of patients in critical conditions, leading to high costs for dialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplants. The government spends more than 26 billion THB each year, accounting for 9–10% of the entire nation’s public health budget. A key issue is the lack of awareness about the importance of early CKD screening, as most patients are only diagnosed in the later stages when symptoms such as fatigue, swelling, or toxin buildup appear. High-risk groups include people with diabetes, 4 in 10 of whom are likely to develop CKD, followed by those with hypertension and urinary tract diseases.”
“The Nephrology Society of Thailand has long recognized this silent threat and has implemented ongoing awareness campaigns, such as ‘Reduce Salt, Lower Blood Pressure, Prevent Kidney Disease,’ along with communication efforts across various channels. However, the most critical solution is proactive screening. This ensures that people have access to early detection. The national alliance marks a vital milestone to systematically slow down and tackle CKD by strengthening kidney health awareness among Thais. The project will enhance the quality of life for patients, their families, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole, stopping CKD in its tracks and improving public health for the future,” added Dr. Vuddhidej.
Currently, kidney disease screening can be done through various methods, one of which is a proteinuria testing with urine dipsticks. This method will test to see any albumin protein leakage in the urine, which is an early sign of impaired kidney function. Proteinuria testing is a globally recognized clinical practice guideline that provides simple, fast, and efficient way to assess kidney health.
Mr. Roman Ramos, President of AstraZeneca Thailand and Frontier Markets, stated: "Addressing chronic kidney disease requires a multi-sectoral collaboration, especially in advocating for early-screening which is crucial for alleviating burden and improving quality of life for patients. AstraZeneca is honoured to be a part of this alliance with our public sector partners. We are committed to supporting innovations to increase screening efficiency, including collaboratively developing patient registry and monitoring dashboard, supporting primary screening tools, and providing knowledge training to the village health volunteer network. These efforts reflect AstraZeneca’s global Act on CKD mission that seeks to transform kidney care from treatment to prevention, building a stronger healthcare system, and while advancing care standards for patients.
Mr. Tanapol Dokkaew, President of the Kidney Friends Association of Thailand, said: “Although kidney disease treatment is currently covered under the Universal Health Coverage Scheme, patients still face daily challenges, including difficulties in accessing care and the financial burden of treatment. This national alliance between the public and private sectors is a crucial step to enable early-stage screening, allowing for earlier detection and timely treatment before the disease progresses to a dangerous stage. It will help ease the burden on patients and their families, while also improving overall health and quality of life sustainably.”
The press conference was attended by distinguished public health experts and executives. Among them were Dr. Sookruetai Lekhyananda, Nephrologist and Representative of Kidney Foundation of Thailand, The Kidney Foundation of Thailand, Dr. Krisada Hanbunjerd, Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Division at the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Vuddhidej Ophascharoensuk, President of The Nephrology Society of Thailand, Associate Professor Warangkana Pichaiwong, Secretary of the Subcommittee for Healthcare System Development (Service Plan) in Kidney Disease, Ministry of Public Health; and Mr. Roman Ramos, President of AstraZeneca Thailand and Frontier Markets.
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AstraZeneca (Securities abbreviation, AZN on LSE/STO/Nasdaq stock exchanges) is a leading global biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and distributing medicines for medicinal purposes, particularly the group of drugs among cancer, heart disease, kidney, metabolic system, and respiratory disease. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and has millions of patients worldwide benefiting from its innovative medicines. For more information, please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the company on facebook.com/AstraZeneca.TH
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