Kolkata, July 25, 2026: In a significant step towards spreading awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Manipal Hospital Dhakuria organised a Dialysis Patient Summit under the Manipal Institute of Nephrology & Urology, bringing together over 50 dialysis patients, kidney transplant recipients, patients awaiting dialysis, and caregivers on a single platform for education, interaction and emotional support.
The summit was led by Dr. Arghya Majumdar, Advisor & Senior Consultant, Department of Nephrology & Kidney Transplant, and Dr. Upal Sengupta, Director & Clinical Lead, Department of Nephrology & Kidney Transplant, along with Dr. Bastab Ghosh, Consultant Urologist.
The programme began with a ceremonial lamp-lighting followed by an engaging panel discussion on kidney health, where experts highlighted the importance of early diagnosis, regular screening, timely treatment, dialysis advancements, kidney transplantation, proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices in managing chronic kidney disease.
To provide personalised support, dedicated consultation kiosks were set up by multidisciplinary teams from Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Dialysis Services and Peritoneal Dialysis, allowing patients and caregivers to receive one-on-one guidance from specialists.
Adding an emotional touch to the event, patients shared inspiring stories of courage and resilience through an essay competition. Santanu Chatterjee, Susanta Ganguly, Paras Sharma, Projesh Kumar Ghosh, Maloya Talapatra, Sarthak Das and Dr. Kaberi Choudhuri were felicitated for their inspiring journeys.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Arghya Majumdar stressed that CKD is becoming a major public health challenge and said awareness and early intervention are essential to prevent patients from reaching end-stage renal disease. He added that dialysis and kidney transplantation can help patients lead meaningful and productive lives when combined with timely treatment and proper medical guidance.
Dr. Upal Sengupta highlighted that more than 2 lakh people in India develop end-stage kidney disease every year, making early diagnosis and awareness about kidney transplantation more important than ever. He said transplantation offers significantly better long-term survival and quality of life for eligible patients and urged people to overcome myths surrounding the procedure.
Sharing his inspiring experience, Arup Kumar Das, a kidney transplant recipient from Barrackpore, said that after being diagnosed with kidney failure in 2007 and undergoing dialysis, he received a kidney transplant in 2008. Eighteen years later, he continues to lead a healthy life, works full-time, travels regularly and enjoys family life. He credited his recovery to expert medical care, family support and strict adherence to medical advice.
Senior Advocate Pradyumna Sinha, another transplant recipient, shared that he never felt like a patient after meeting Dr. Upal Sengupta and described the transplant as giving him a “second life.” He encouraged patients to overcome fear, follow medical advice and take medicines regularly.
Hospital Director Dilip Kumar Roy said kidney disease affects not only patients but also their families. He emphasized that healing comes through knowledge, emotional support and confidence, adding that the summit was designed to empower patients and reassure them that they are not alone in their journey.
The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, enabling patients and caregivers to directly engage with medical experts. Through the Dialysis Patient Summit, Manipal Hospital Dhakuria reaffirmed its commitment to promoting kidney health awareness, encouraging timely intervention and helping patients lead healthier, more confident and dignified lives.
